I didnt Kill Dracula, but if I did this is how i would have done it (a book by Van Helsing)

The scent of aged whisky and tabaco filled the air of the dormant building, there was a heavy rain pouring down and the clattering of watter striking tin buckets could be heard over the roar of the weather out side.

Though with all the noise nothing could wake the aged man who was slouched over his desk, long brown hair rolled off his head and on to the desk he had decided to pass out on, the shot glass just barely in his fingers clutches across the desk from him.

In this deep sleep he didnt notice how some one had let themself in to his home, and was walking around the room, tipping pictures in to there proper place, and generally tidying up for him, although it was a sign of friendship this would be only fthe second time the two met.

The barly audible sound of a bottle of whisky pouring in to the shot glass awoke the pased out individual, his vision had not yet recovered and all he knew was that some one had poured him a drink, thats all he needed to know really.

Nothing like fire down the throat to wake you up he thaught as he downed the drink, his head throbbed in pain while his throat burned all the way down.

His sences restored the man could see a young individual standing before him, he held himself like some kind of noble man, one of thoes pretty boys too, blond hair colmed in to a pony tail, fancy white suit too, he was speaking but the drunk just was not listoning.

Though the young man senced this, pouring yet another shot the drunk downed the drink as if it was a nateral thing to do.

"Mr Van Helsing?"

Finally the words reached Helsings ears and he threw himself back in to his seat, oh how he hated hearing his own name...

"I'd like to say he'll be back next week but I dont think that gimmic will work" he responded, wich drew a smile on this noblemans face.

"No, not a second time any way" he politly chuckled and took a seat, formally crossing one leg over the other before removing a deck of cards from his shirt pocket, opening the box he began to idley shuffle them.

"Do you know who I am?"

"I said no the first time didnt I?"

Seeing the bottle was empty Hellsing began to rummage threw the desk droors to find another source of alchohal.

"Haha, ah, Mr Hellsing your Wit knows no end... I wont ask you if you know why I am here then, I will tell you" the nobleman leaned back in his seat "I was wondering if you were interested in hunt-".

"Sorry, I dont hunt any more" The aged individual remarked sharply, finding only more empty bottles wich turned his mood more sour.

"Whats stopping you from starting again?" asked the young man, as he shuffled again and again and again ocasinally he peeked down at the cards as if hoping for some kind of message to apear before him.

"Look at me, I am a old man, a drunk man, I'm out of shape and Hunting just is not my thing any more, losing my friends just aint my thing any more!" his last words were almoast shouted as he threw another droor open, this man spoke of a tender subject.

"What about the friends people lose to monsters every day?" The man stopped shuffling the cards, and pinched one between two of his fingers to look it over passivly.

Helsing paused a moment to think of a good responce and could find none, instead, he exscused himself once more "That does not change the fact I am too old for that kinda thing... your waisting your time".




And just like that, a sudden flash, and a bang, and within the few seconds it took to transpire Helsing held a small fire arm in his free hand up to the mans head, who wore only a coy smirk.

"You seem more than fit to hunt to me, Mr Helsing..."


Seeing the bottle was empty Hellsing began to rummage threw the desk droors to find another source of alchohal.
Van Helsing had a uneasy feeling about the man, using his desguise of a drunk he began searching for a decent weapon, the second droor he opened he found a gun, and moved to the next droor, keeping note of this.


"Whats stopping you from starting again?" asked the young man, as he shuffled again and again and again ocasinally he peeked down at the cards.
The noblemans cards are used as deadly weapons, as soon as a card is presented before him he may throw it and depending on the symbal on the card depends on the effects, he searches for a Spade.



"You anticipated my attack well enoough, even the sharpest of minds cant see it coming... you sent a bullet right threw my magic card" The young man smiled and tucked the cards away "Now, you can put down your gun and we can-".

The Hammer cocked back and Helsing pressed it to the mans head.

"Buddy... the only thing "we" can do is part ways... I can send you out the door walking or in a casket, does not make a bit of difrence to me at this point".


The young man frowned "... I shall escourt myself out then, I only urge you read this" as he said this he tossed a white stamped envalope before the ex Hunter and got up to leave.

As the young man reached the door he stopped and turned around "You only fool yourself Mr Hellsing, just because you stopped hunting does not mean-".

A Second discharge of the gun sent a bullet in to the door frame, and the Young man admeediatly left the building in to the rain.

"I sent a lot of people to there caskets pal, dont think your any difrant!" He called after him, Hellsing took the note and set the gun aside, reaching down to the next droor to grab a pipe. After lighting the pipe and setting it in his mouth he began to read what the note had to say.

Silly Helsing, we all know you didn't kill Dracula, that was either a Belmont or Long Absences Are Great's character when he use to post. you were too busy fighting characters with silly names like malice or audacity.





Aside from that, this reads pretty well actually, and I'd like to see you continue it. But since there's no pressure to post like in the RPs, I'd like to humbly request that you look over what you write so that you don't make silly typos.

louse = a type of insect.

loose = something that isn't fully secured.

lose = no longer in one's possession.

Dear Mr Van Helsing, I broke my promise

The note didnt make any sence to the ex hunter looked over the note to try and make sence of it, finally looking over the envalope it came in.

The return adress was located some where in ipswitch, and apon seeing this the note fell out of his hands, just as his heart began to sink.

There was only one man in Ipswitch that he knew, and how he found some one to deliver that note seemed even more cryptic than the message itself.

"Menace..." he gripped the envalope tightly in his fist as tears welled in his eyes, the promise he was refering to could only be one thing.



The floor envaloped Helsings view as he was braught to his knees yet again, the monster before him had claimed victory, but chose not to slay him, this must have been Helsings fourth attempt to strike down the Vampire, yet always was this beast the victer.

"Mr Helsing, you are truely a stuborn man, you waste your talent on the likes of me" The Vampires smugness drew a frown apon the hunters face "I cant let monsters like you live Menace!" he called out to the Vampire.

"Oh, please spare me your noble speaches... I am not a savage like thoes other createns you hunt down, I was once human too you know... I was also a hunter, much like yourself".

Helsing slowly pushed his hands from the floor, leaving himself on his knees before the Vampire.

"You have butchered just as many allies as you have enemys Helsing, always rushing in here, you force me to take there lives... this is not to say it is entirly your fault". Menace took a sip of blood from a whine glass as he stared at Helsing, a wide grin spread apon his face... he enjoyed there little climatic fights, if he was to ever Kill Van Helsing, who would take his place? some two bit scum?.

Snapping out of his day dreaming the Hunter found himself on a train, the whistle blew indicating he was on his way. The note itself was cryptic, he glanced down to see the note was in his hands, but he had to be sure, he had to know the truth.


Gasping for air the hunter was kneeling before Menace once again, countless times had he raided his castle, his men perished before his traps, and finally, when it came to this last conflict, a few words were exchanged, his remaining men would fight and die, and then... He would be spared by the monster.

"Ah, Helsing...How many more times shall we continue this until you finally give up?" Staring down at him the tall man sat down on his throne like seat, the sight of the beaten Helsing seemed to please him.

"Until" started the hunter before he began to caugh and catch his breath "you KILL me!" Dragging himself up to his feet the Hunter clutched a Crucifix and Rapier, the weaons seemed hardly effective against this foe.

"Or until you grow old... and grey... and feeble... and you run out of peoples lives to throw away" the words struck Helsing right in the heart.

"You dedicated your life to hunting me? you band together mercinaries to fight me? I will not age like you... I will not wither, I will not grow weak" Staring down at him, with a look of disappointment on his face Menace continued his lecture.

"Why don't you go live a humans life and let me be the monster... you have cost just as many lives as I have taken, do you feel regret for there deaths, or do you just regret not killing me?".

"Damn you Menace!"

The Vampires grin widened at this, leg folded over the other and hands clasped together, Menace stared down at Hellsing as he made his verbal retort.

"These men you slaughter know the costs before they join my cause!, If I let you be how many innocents will you kill!?"

"Only enough to keep me alive... I am no glutton, but I am higher on the food chain" Menace's trade mark grin faded as his face became serious.

Helsing dropped back down on to his knees, dropping his blade and cross in the process. "You really are invincible, aren't you?" he finally managed to say, suddenly the real impact of the Vampires words took there hold on him.

The hunters life was the hunt, and nothing but the hunt, a warrior, a "hero" but how much time had he really spent relishing in that?... how many lives did he prematurely cut off, all but a few of his friends lived.

"But, why?... why do you continue to let me live, why not the others!" he looked back up to the ex Doctor.

Leaning to his right , the Vampire set his fist in to his cheek "To teach you a lesson..." The hunter was only confused by his words. "It was some time during the Black Hunt I realised that there are far to many unique creatures in this world that humans kill without a second thought... what a terrible waist these one of a kind phenomenons had to die, I am sure there was a more peaceful way to resolve the issue...".

With a sigh the Vampire continued as Hellsing was preparing a small explosive grenade from his sleave. "You know During the black hunt the church of St Adam had slaughtered a lot of unique creatures... i know I could have settled the matters better then blood shed, I lost a lot of friends that hunt too".

Lunging with his last ounce of strength Hellsing jabbed the grenade at the Vampires head, but Menace was much to fast, and took Hellsings hand in his own, there fists balled over the grenade.

Noticing his predicament, Hellsing tried to pull away, and at the last moment Menace kicked him away and the Grenade exploded in the Vampires hand.

Once the flash was over, Helsing saw shrapnel littering the Vampires left side of his face, shoulder and side, his hand missing completely, skin peeled away from his eye and jaw.

"Its because Van Helsing, that you are a one of a kind human that we spare your life".

Suddenly the hunter could notice the darkest corners illuminating in red dots, which he soon realised were eyes.

"Mr Van hellsing, I would like you to meet my family".


finally ariving in Ipswitch the hunter glanced to one of the citys most noticable castles, though it had long been vacant, it was the Castle in wich he and Menace had dueld so many times before.

But this was not the place he wished to enter now, hopping off the train he made his way threw the busy streets, he was hungry, but the note's message was far more important to him than his own well being, the ex hunter had not had a decent meal in the past few months, a resualt of this was his slightly over weight body, the muscle the hunter once had was deteriorated do to a lack of use.

Aproaching the road of cobble stone he had visited only once before the row of houses all seemed empty, and at the far end was a complete mob of people, citesens and law enforcemant alike swarmed a single building.

The home didnt stick out from the rest at all, though Helsing could confirm his deepest fears, and once again the note slipped from his fingers as depare clutched his heart, while his mind thaught back to the last time he had seen Menace.


Aproaching the bright colored house the hunter slowly aproached, he had caught a message that Menace had left his castle and purchest realestate not to far away from it. The moves purpose was a mystery to him, all he knew is that one way or another Menace would be finished once and for all, or it would be the end of his life.

He was not going to take any one with him this time, no more lives would be ended but his own, atleast none that would swear oath under his comand.

Aproaching the door, the snow was swept off the roof of the house and covered the hunter but did not slow his advance, his hand reached out to open it, but unexspectingly the door opened all on its own, that was untill the hunter could see the Vampire he was hunting on the other side, that same trade mark smug grin apon his face.

"Hello Mr Helsing, its nice to see you again, care to come in and have a cup of tea?" he acted so polite, but Helsing knew his melevalent intent, the hunter went to strike at his foe, and when the Vampire caught his wrist, another voice would come from behind the Vampire. "Dear?, who is at the door?" a womans voice? Helsings eys shown shock, had he taken a woman in as a slave to his will?

"No one dear, just an old friend" Menace replied as he twisted the Wrist of the hunter and slapped his other hand over Helsings mouth to muffle his voice, and causing him to drop his weapon. "I think he hurt himself by slipping on the Ice, you wouldent mind company for a few would you?".

Helsing exschanged a furious glance at Menace as he was dragged inside "I hope he doesent mind my cooking" she called back to Menace.

Now Helsing was puzzled, unless she ment she was going to cook him... but it was not liek a Vampire to cook any kind of meal. His mind raced to make sence of the situation but could come up with no conclusion.

"Well Mr Helsin, will you stay for supper?, I insist" he took the hunter by the shoulder, and would look like a friendly helping hand as they walked was actually a forcefull gesture.

Apo entering the kitchen Helsing could see a feast on the table, steamed cabbage, warm bread buns, a roast of some kind. And then his eyes were set apon Menace's woman, a short blond woman with the kindest smile he had ever seen, completely spared of the Vampires bite, and completely under the influence of her own will.

"Be unpolite, and I will kill every one in this town, and let every one els know it was your fault" the Vampire whispered in to Helsings ear as he sat the hunter down, who still wore a bewildered face.

"This..." Helsings eyes wandered about the table before another voice caught his attention.

"Daddy?" a young child glanced between Helsing and Menace "Who is this?" "Oh him?, that is the famous hunter Van Helsing" Menace introduced his guest to his family before taking a seat at the end of the table.

Helsing watched, as food was put before him, grace was spoken and the family was eating, like a normal family... not like a savage beast, but...

He could pick up on Menace's distaste for this normal food, though he managed to force it down his throat, while his son had less trouble, but still a noticable hesitance to eat... untill he bit in to the rare roast the mother had cooked up.

Before he knew it supper was over, and he had barely touched his own food. "Is there somthing wrong Mr Helsing?" Menace's boy looked to him in wonder, while the hunter still glanced about slowly in awe. "no...nothing... I ..I need to go" he suddenly said and exscused himself, but as he went for the door Menace fallowed after him.

Finally out side Helsing whipped around and pointed to Menace with a angry tone to his voice "You!" before he said another word Menace interupted him in a calm tone of voice "I made a family, they dont know what I am or what I used to be, though I asume that subject will come up in a later conversation... No harm will come to her Helsing I promise". Menace spoke with such confedence and without his usual smug tone that the hunter actually believed his words.

"Helsing" Menace spoke again to get the hunters attention "You have no reason to hunt me any more, why dont you take up that life you need, one without conflict... dont you ever get tired of it?!".

The hunter glanced between his own feet and to Menace, the urge to strike at Menace was almoast overwelming, but every time he wanted to images of his wife and child apeared before his eyes.

"And... what if you go back on that promise Menace... who is to stop you from slaughtering them". His question, for the first time left Menace with a hurt look apon his face, as if his heart had actually been stabbed. "Then Mr Helsing... i wont have a reason to stop you from hunting me...will I?".

Helsing watched as a slender figyer was removed from the house, he could catch sight of her blond hair, but nothing more, he didnt need to see her face, he knew who it was already. He stopped a policeman as he went to pass the Ex hunter and asked what had happened.

"Terrible shame actually, it would seem some young lady was murdered, atleast the child was spared, but...he's pretty shaken up, not talking much either". Helsing couldent pry any more information out of the man, but had enough information to know what happend... the note, the death, he only wondered how that kid got ahold of the note... did he know Menace?

Van Helsing was on a train back to Rome within moments, he knew that pretty boy would be back to visit him about re opening his hunters guild, about starting another hunt, this mysterious kid in white knew far more about himself and Menace than he did.

"Third times a charm aint it kiddo" he said to himself as he glanced out the window as the scenery out side began to change rapidly before his eyes.

Incomplete

A sweep of the arm revelaed dust mold and actual counterspace as the whisky bottles and shot glass's fell and scattered againsed the ground. Helsings method of cleaning apeared to be throwing everythign on to the floor and taking care of it from there.

Ever sence he had heard of Menace's act he had been cleaning up his shop, opening long locked chests, and drawing fourth old friends.

The once blank walls were now decorated with his friends, old Crossbows modified for rappid fire, loaded with silver bolts, though now loaded no more. Blades of all origins as well, and crossed over his own seat were a pair of silver rapiers.

Another loud crash as he swept his arm across another counter, quickly setting a pot with a plant in it over where the mess used to be, a good dusting was foregn to the ex hunter.

From there he fetched a wide shovel, normally used for plowing snow the hunter was using it to shove all the garbage that had acumulated in to a small unused closet, where he pilled it as high as he could before strugling to close the door, promising himself to clean it at some point in the future.

And once it was all done, he was tired and tossed himself down in to his seat, staring at the frighteningly empty cabin. The decorations of weapons on the wall didnt do a thing to liven up the atmosphear, nore the plant he dug out of some ones guarden in Rome.

All the windows were open to get the stench out, his hand idely hovered to where a bottle used to sit, only now it was a void space.

A sigh later the hunter drew his arms closer to himself, starting this hunting buisness was going to be much more dificualt then it seemed... he trusted the pretty boy would return some time in the night, he felt he was persistant enough.

Entertaining Cast, and it was cool how you built up to revealing the promise. When I realized what the promise was I was kind of shocked. Good read.

The day itself flew by fast, it only felt like minuts for the Ex hunter actually before he was wiping the sleep out of his eyes with the palms of his hands. By the time he recovered his sences he saw that the door across the room was open, letting a cold chill in to his buisness.

"Hrm..." he muttered a few incoherant thaughts and pushed himself out of the seat, sliding his hands across the table and snatching up a Revolver from the counter he slowly began to aproach the door.

But his steps lead him instead to another door, this one was closed, the hunter then promptly set the gu on the door, Barrel pointed at the wood.

"Thaught you'd show up" Helsing remarked, his voice let off to the fact he was still waking up.

"My my, your sences are never dulled... what gave me away?" Came the fluent voice of the "pretty boy" from before. To this, Helsing removed the hand gun from the door and swong it open "You forgot to wipe your feet, Some gentleman you are". Marching back the Ex hunter slamed the front door shut, and returned to his desk "You and I need to have a little chat". Aproaching the other side of the desk and pulling a seat over to sit himself down in, the sharp dressed youngster nodded "may I asume you mean how I got the note Menace sent you?... Quite simple really I purchased your old home, wich you sold and lived in your shop here, I will also take liberty to asume Menace wanted to shock you do to the fact he knows where you live".

"So you just decided to be the good little scholar and bring me the mail?" Helsing said not to convinced.

"not at all sir" the youngsters care free smile dissapeered as he leaned closer on the counter.

"Your old house... burned down after I left to retrieve my mail" his words took Helsing back, if Menace thaught he was still living in his old home...pherhaps he waned him dead? The thaught left Helsings mind admeediatly, that was not the Vampires style, some one els must have been out to get him but he wouldent let the stranger before him know this.

"Well... I suppose you can stay here, least if your interested in hunting monsters" tipping his hat Helsing watched the mans exspressions soften, as he reached his hand out in hand shake "Of cource, I want to get the basterd who burnt down my house!, I spent a lot of money on that".

"Then welcome to the family, you can call me Mr.Helsing" Shaking hands the gentleman smiled and glared right in to Helsings eyes "And you may call my Charels Richton, but all my friends call me Charels".

Charels and Helsing both worked hard on getting the hunting buisness in shape, Helsing was going over old contacts while Charels used his sence of style to liven up the place. He did so by first giving everythign a thorough cleaning, he even dippe in to his own pockets, buyig some fine furniture for the place, he added a red oriental rug to the main room where Helsing would greet peopel, he then moved on to give the rest of the building a over haul, stripping rooms bare to allow accomedation for the hunters he hoped to hire out.

It took a week or two, but the building was finally suitable for living in, the two hunters stood out side marveling at there own handy work and covered head to toe in dust and cobwebs.

"You do nice work Charles, what is your ocupation any way?" Chuckling lightly Charels dusted his hat on his pants, he had changed out of his nice white cloathes and opted for a pair of already dirty leather pants and light blue shirt. "Oh me?, I'm a gambler Mr Helsing... though a Jack of all trades I am my main income is on gambling".

Giving Charels a awkward glance the Hunter also dusted his hat off "I guess your a lucky fellow then?".

"Goodness no, I cheat"

Not wanting to dig any deeper the old man just shook his head and marched back inside, the thaught crossed his mind that Charels may be out to cheat him... but Helsing was confident he could break both his legs should that ever happen.

None of his contacts wanted to get back in to the hunting buisness, the few that there was seemed not to pleased to hear from him and promptly blew him off. "Maybe this whole hunting thing was a bad Idea..." Helsing grunted in hs newly aquired pesemistic attitude, from the other room charles voice was almoast sung. "Maybe it was a bad Idea to stop, you used to be world famous, now your just in books my dear friend!, what we need is to do is let every one know we mean buisness!".

Pushing himself off his desk the old man walked twards the next room to see what Louis was up to, talking threw walls was never his strong point. "And how do you suppose to do that?" now standing a few feet behind Charels, who seemed to be cooking some kind of meal on the stove, a towell over his shoulder and dressed in a new pair of cloathes, the young man disliked getting dirty, it was amazing he managed to get the building so damn clean.

"Simple Mr Helsing... we need to go hunt a monster, and I may have just the one..." walking to the table and tossing the Towell aside back on to the counter space of the Kitchen he picked up a news papper, lifting it up only to slap it down before Helsing and pointed to a article "Read" he said as if a command and returned to his cooking.

Lifting up the papper helsings eyes scanned the page, the headline told of a child being kidnapped, the Kid napper was said to have come in the dead of night, and taken the child, leaving without a trace. But what was abnormal about this... was that this happened every month, the children always of about the age of eight to ten, the gender didnt seem to matter.

"Thats... a problem that should be adressed" a sick feeling over took the hunters stomach as he thaught about what could have happened, he already had a good Idea of what was doing it. "Oh?" Catching on to the hunter knoledge Charels set down a plate of toast and eggs "What ever do you think could have done such a thing?".

Helsing sighed and looked to the papper once again, a portrait of what the kidnapper looked like was sketched out, though admittedly the papper said witnesses never got a look at the person. The Sketch itself was just a person in a dark cowel, nothing definative "If I was a betting man... I'd say its a Witch we are dealing with".

"Betting man you say?... Well Mr Helsing I'd take you up on that be" biting a piece of the toast a smirk crossed Charels face, atlast they had themself a monster to catch.

Lightening arced across the sky as another storm settled in, they seemed more prone now adays for some reason. A carrige soon rolled in to the acursed town, two horses lead it with a cloaked man sitting out in the rain, holding the reins tightly in his boney hands.

From inside Helsing pulled the velvate blinds aside to peer out side, in time to see man and woman alike glance out the window to see the newcomers and quickly snuff out the lights.

"Friendly town" he remarked to Charles, who was dorned in a heavy black leather coat, wich matched Helsings own, they dressed acordingly to the weather after all. "Pherhaps you have cluttered yourself in that cage of yours for to long Mr Helsing, you'll find this ehavior in many of the cursed vilages".

The carrige came to a stall, they had reached the town hall and swiftly exited the carrige. "Wait for us in town, we shall meet you at the towns Inn" Charles called to there rider, who simply nodded in achnoledgemant.


Side by side the hunters pushed open the large wooden double doores, there eyes were greeted by a long hallway, at the end a open door led in to another larger room, from what they could see there was rows of many seats gathered before a stage, a man sitting at a desk on this stage called across the hall to them.

"C-come in, please!" the stocky man stood up and peckoned to them, and so they aproached. "You must be the Mayor?" Helsing commented as his eyes wandered to the many closed doores they had passed to gain entrence to what apeared to be a court room.

"We'll see how long that lasts" the mayores trembling hands skimmed over a pile of parchmant. "See thease? All death threats!" running his fingers across his receeding hairline the troubled man set his gaze apon the hunters. "There is somthing... Stalking our good town, It is to my understanding you can put a end to it?" Before Helsing could answer Charels stepped falward with a broad smirk "Undoubtably!".

With a sigh of relief the Mayor fell back in to his chair, muttering a thanks to god while Helsing pressed his next question "Has any one actually seen what ales the town?". "N-no fine sir, only shadows and silhouets of it, but it is always seen exiting in to the hills north of us, there is a thicket in wich we always lose its trail".

"Than we shall start there, if nothing els we may frighten it in to leaving if it feels threatoned by us" Charles spoke his thaughts alowed to Van Helsing who gave a nod in agreemant.

Saying there farewells Helsing could not help but feel good, like a old spark was kindled within him, he felt his heart beat quicken slightly wich Charels seemed to notice but only glancing briefly to the Ex Hunter.

"This one is going to be elusive" Charles complained as they stepped out in to the rain and headed up the road north. "Makes me wish we had a few more men to cover the exits, colm the forest to find anything". Helsing was thinking hard on this hunt, but he could never keep a steady train of thaught, this Charels seemed to know just a little too much about hunting... actually he knew a little too much about a lot of things.

With there hunt layed before them, and darkness set apon the land the hunters finally came across the thicket of brush and dtrees the Mayor had mentioned to them, the tree's themself looked lifeless and sinister, but this didnt scare the hunters "We'll enter with torches, I want this thing to know were here" he quickly pulled two unlit torches from his coat and handed one to Charels, a short moment later Helsing pulled a flask from his coat, pouring half on to his torch, and the other half on Charels's.

Striking the ground the torch ignighted in a bright flame, the inital flame caused the two to shield there eyes, but they would adjust to the light soon enough, once they did Charels lit his own torch and looked to Helsing. The two gave a nod to each other before carefully entering the thicket, marking the start of there first hunt, in a verry long time.

Creeping threw the thicket was no easy task for Charels and Helsing as it was thick with dead trees and large branches that were in there way. Equiped with nothing but there hunting equipment ment it was even more dificualt to deal with the brush that was heavy in the forest.

"Maybe we should have tried to catch the kidnapper in the village" Charels complained and the veteran hunter was quick to reply "This is a creature that prays on defenceless children, scaring it off is easy but I want it dead so it can harm no one".

"Is that why you carry a torch in this forest? so it can see us and we cant see it?" Charels said, it was clear this was not his favorit terain to track threw. "Exsactly, should it feel it has the upper hand we may encounter it" Helsing said to his comrad, and the two promptly stopped as they heard the crinkling of dried leaves just ahead of them, where a opening of the brush gave to a clearing in the tree's.

"Who go's there!" squacked a voice ahead of them and the hunters exschanged glances, for what they heard sounded like no beast, but a old lady.

"Reveal yourself to us, we are hunters, tracking a monster who is said to reside here" spoke Helsing in a comanding tone, and from the darkness a short feeble old woman apeared, a walking stick aiding her steps.

"Thoes village folk sent you hmm? Serves them right for there ailmants" the woman spat at the ground, and the hunters uneasyness grew. "Have you noticed anything bizar lurking in thease woods woman?".

"Its not woman its Mare!" she corrected in a sharp tone before answering again "And there is this shady woman who creeps around my cabin! but she's probly one of them loud mouthed village folk".

While charles shifted his weight between legs Helsing aproached the old woman, holding the torch high. "What does this woman look like?" he questioned and Mare blinked a few times as she thaught out loud. "Well... she has long black hair, and real pail skin... Shows up in the moonlight real well! always shows up at night and peeks threw my windows, if my husband was still around he'd show her a thing or two!".

With the description and Helsings thaughts of the creature he was hunting lead him to believe it was indeed a witch who stalked the town. "Mare, would you grant me a moment to watch over your cabin, I fear the Witch we are hunting and your stalker may be one in the same".

There was a unreadable look to Mare, she seemed some what surprised at Helsings request, but nodded soon after "Why...yes, yes! rid me of that pest!" turning around and not waiting for the hunters to follow Mare walked off in to the night to her cabin.

"I dont know how she does that" Helsing sighed, the old woman must have left the village and lived in the forest for some time, she probly knew the forest better than any one.


The hunters had set themselves up by the Cabin, hiding in a thicket of dence brush the two remained close to each other while the cold nights wind swept by them and chilled there bones.

"Tell me, Mr helsing" Charels whispered ever so quietly "how is one to catch a Witch?". The older hunter rocked slightly, adjusting his position to allow the blood to circulate in his legs. "Two ways like most anything, by bait, or by cathing them in the act.. this Witch has some intrest in Mrs Mare and were going to get to the bottom of this".

Hours passed, another drizzle of rain poured down and the feint light from the moon hanging high in the sky did not leave much to be seen. It was estimated to be around Midnight, and thats when Helsing felt Charels grab his arm tightly "the roof Mr Helsing...the roof!" he whispered urgantly and as his eyes settled apon the roof, he could see a tall, slender figyer standing directly on the roof, twards the front door.

The hunters watched in silance, the rain would do good to cover the sounds of leaves beneath there feet as they slowly made there way from out of the bushes and around to the back side of the house.

Charels and Helsing had there eyes directed at the roof "what do you suspect she is up too?" Helsing asked to wich Charels responded "looking for a way in?" they began to walk around the house, each taking a side while watching the roof to see if there Witch had a way of getting down.

Creeping slowly Helsing stopped at the corner of the building, slowly he reached in to his coat for his pistal and took a deep breath, eyes to the ground where the rim of his hat caused a small stream of watter to pour on to the ground ahead of him.

Before he made a move he heard the front door swing open, and a light illuminated the front side of the house "Who go's there?!, you leave me alone you hear?" Mare squawked, dressed in a night gown and holding on to a candle stick. Helsing swept infront of the building, eyes to the roof as he saw there Witch descending from it, threatening to land directly on top of Mare!.

He could shoot or get the old woman out of the way, and his gut told him the safty of this woman was top priority. Sliding infront of Mare the hunters hands found her shoulders and he yanked the old woman aside.

Mare gasped, and before she got a full lung full of breath the Witch struck the ground and twisted to face Helsing who now freed his hands to take aim with his pistal and shot quickly and blindly, if he gave this person any time to act things could turn badly.

The Muzzle flash lit up the Witches face, slender yes, dark curtain like hair and piercing blue eyes, but the grunt of the bullet tearing threw its shoulder was all but a womans.

Charels apeared from around the other corner, he was not using a gun like Helsing, he held a open deck of cards instead, wich looked rediculous given the circomestances... but Helsing knew better.

Popping the bottom of the deck he grabbed the first card that came out in two fingers and tossed it at the Witch, a three of spades, wich turned in to three knives during its travel to the Witch.

But magick was a Witches game, and this one knew it well.

The Knives scattered like striking some invisible shield, and in the distance there was a horses cry! Threw the brush a brilliant black stalian charged threw the property, before Helsing could get his next shot off he had to move, or be trampled by the great steed.

It never slowed once, the Witch reached his hand out and took the horse by the reins, swinging up on to its back and riding in to the night. "Get back inside!" Helsing barked without even glancing to Mare while he took off after the Witch, Charels close behind him, the only way to get the Witch now was to follow the horses tracks and hope he stops to treat his wound.

That sounds like...



...It hurt.



(What? they can't ALL be fuckin' gems...)