Partners in Crime

Chapter I

::at ocean side riding into field::

They say friends should never have to say goodbye. They say that to say goodbye to someone you love and truly care for, is one of the hardest things to do. But there is something They don't realize; It is harder when you can't say goodbye at all.

And Gabriel Van Helsing knew he would never be able to. He would never get to say goodbye to the one person he had greatly valued. Van Helsing knew he would never get the knowledge or feeling of rest some people take for granted; he would never get a chance to say goodbye to the one person he had regarded as an equal. Gabriel Van Helsing knew he would never say a true goodbye to Anna Valerious.

As he continued to ride into the distance, Van Helsing knew the ashes of Anna were now caught in the wind, blowing softly over the sapphire ocean. While Carl and Van Helsing rode along back to the Holy City of Rome, the sun slowly began to set. As it did, there was a cloud of sadness in the air, which seemed to linger over the riders on horseback like a darkness from which you cannot escape.

As the last piece of light dipped below the horizon, it was like a signal to Van Helsing, like the radiance of the day was not only gone, but that the sun setting was an indication to him. It was an indication that the sun had also set on Anna's life, and therefore sealing her fate.

That night, Carl and Van Helsing slept under the stars. Both of them were thinking about the long journey back to the Knights of the Holy Order that awaited them the next day. As they slept, both were plagued with nightmares of that fateful night in Castle Dracula.

Great, thought Gabriel as he awoke with a start, now I have something else to fear when I go to sleep: the past I remember.

The next morning, an extremely tired Carl and a very gloomy Van Helsing woke most reluctantly. Gabriel had not accepted Anna's death as well as Carl had expected.

I guess you can't really blame him, I mean, he has no past and then what he can remember haunts him, thought Carl. It was sad for Carl to see Van Helsing in this state, looking utterly hopeless. It was even worse for him, because Carl knew that nothing he said would help change what had happened. Nothing Carl said could ever change the past.

When the small camp was packed up, the horses were prepared for the long trek ahead. It was apparent that both were looking forward to getting back to the Vatican City.

Carl missed his lab dearly, the one place he knew better than anyone else and felt at home in. Van Helsing was just looking forward to getting some much needed sleep. In fact, Van Helsing hadn't gotten a good sleep since...since before he had gone to Transylvania looking for a certain Count Dracula as well as a gypsy princess. Now neither of them are alive. One for better and one for worse, thought Van Helsing sullenly. He sighed as he found his thoughts once again remaining over Anna.

The next few days on the way to the Holy City went by much in the same way, with rare words between Carl and Van Helsing, and dreams haunted by Anna's death. Soon enough, the two riders reached the Vatican City. Entering the huge cathedral was like stepping into a cloud. It was beautiful, full of light and color.

Van Helsing's feet automatically led him to the confessional, where he stepped in, not even bothering to see if someone was in there, for it was the dead of night and he was too tired to care. He went to his knees and said, "Forgive me father, for I have sinned."

"It took you long enough to get here," said the Cardinal, as he pulled a lever leading down the stairs into the secret society of the Knights of the Holy Order. Van Helsing wasn't in the mood to protest, so when the Cardinal began walking, he followed without uttered complaint.

"Van Helsing, get some sleep. You look very tired. I shall inform you of your next assignment tomorrow evening. You must leave almost immediately," and at this, van Helsing looked up in anger. He had only just gotten back! "But I think you should sleep now," said the Cardinal calmly, noticing Gabriel's look, "I hope you sleep well."

Carl had gotten in through the friar and monk entrance that he knew better than anyone (he's weird like that). It was a secret passage hidden behind a statue near the back of the cathedral. The entrance led into a tunnel that went almost directly to the lab. The moment he got there, the friar started working on a new sword for Van Helsing. Anyone could make one of these, but I make them the best, Carl thought, plus, he needs a new one because his handy-dandy crossbow which I ingeniously made for him can't tackle all fiends.

After he had decided what to do the next day, Carl re-acquainted himself with everything. He was toying with a silver stake when Van Helsing walked by, clearly on the way to his rooms. Gabriel raised an eyebrow at Carl's odd behavior, but said nothing. Carl put the stake down, and smiled stupidly. Van Helsing just kept on walking.

Carl's inventions are getting a tad on the unhealthy side...thought Van Helsing as he finally shut his eyes for what he hoped would be a peaceful sleep.

Ok well, that was the first chapter! Tell me what u think, advice, comments, or anything that can help would be great! Now review!