Title: The Damned

Authors: Creed Cascade and TJ

Fandom: Van Helsing

Pairing: Gabriel Van Helsing/Velkan Valerious, Carl

Rating: NC-17

Status: new

Archive: If you want it, go ahead. Just knock me upside the head and let me know.

Feedback: creed_cascade@hotmail.com and TazzyJan@aol.com

Other websites: http://insaneasylum.slashfanfiction.com

Disclaimers: We have a "don't ask, don't tell" policy. You don't ask where we get these strange plots starring mysteriously familiar characters, and we won't tell you that I make no money, only deliriously happy satisfaction. Very hush-hush.

Warning: Mentions of non-con, though nothing too graphic.

Summary: Velkan returns from the dead.



The Damned
By Creed Cascade and TJ

Velkan’s lungs crashed open and his heart started to beat again. It was dark all around him and he couldn’t move. The air was thick and he started to scream, coughing from the stale air.

He remembered his sister before… his death, but also from somewhere else. Someplace that might have been called the afterlife. He lived again all because of a simple pact his sister had made with God in the moments before her death. She had given herself to save Van Helsing and the souls of her family, but she had asked the higher power to protect Van Helsing at all costs. Velkan knew that his family’s debt had now been transferred to this man. His memory was foggy and he was on the edge of panic, but he knew he had to find Van Helsing.

By the time he'd clawed his way out of the coffin and up through the ground, his hands were little more than bleeding points of agony. He knew better than to show himself in the village. His people were a superstitious lot. Instead, he made his way toward his family castle, now deserted. He would slip inside and gather what he needed then be on his way before anyone was the wiser.

“Why did they send me back, Anna?” he screamed into the empty great hall. But he didn’t need a higher power to answer. Anna had gone to her death unblemished and pure, while he had died with the sins of the werewolf tainting his soul. This new life would be his atonement.

And the first step in that atonement was finding Van Helsing. He wondered if the man would take the time to hear him out before trying to kill him again and somehow knew that he would. Van Helsing may have been the one to kill him, but he had found no joy in it.

*

“The scholars in Rome with be amazed to find that there’s an ogre stronghold in the Transylvanian mountains,” Carl chattered to Van Helsing. They were sitting by the fire and the hunter was not a happy man. Being forced to stay in this country did not appeal to either of them, but the job had to be done before the ogres picked off anymore stray shepherds.

"I'm sure they will," Van Helsing replied. He stared into the fire and let his mind wander, knowing they were safe enough for now. As he stared into the flames all he could see was Anna's lifeless eyes as they stared back at him. No matter how long he lived, he would never forgive himself for taking her life.

“After vampires, you’d think a little… well, ogres aren’t so little, are they?” Carl laughed at his own joke. “That’s to say, what’s an ogre after facing Dracula?”

“Don’t say his name!” Van Helsing hissed.

Carl bit his lip, berating himself silently. He was supposed to be helping Van Helsing and all he seemed to be doing was making things worse. "I'm sorry," he said softly, trying to reach out to his companion. "I know you cared for her very much."

Van Helsing was ready to tell Carl that he wasn’t capable of love when he heard a noise in the darkness beyond the reach of the firelight. He moved to a low crouch in a mere moment, hissing at Carl, “Stay here.”

Carl watched Van Helsing move toward the noise. He scrambled over to the weapons bag and drew out a long sword. Holding it out in front of him he began to follow his friend. Whatever it was, he wasn't going to let Van Helsing face it alone.

It was Carl who was taken by surprise as he walked into a bush. There was a quick movement and flutter of clothing and the next thing he knew, he was lying on the ground with the sword knocked out of his hand. Whoever was sitting on his chest, hissed into his face, “What are you to him?”

Carl froze at the words, not understanding what the... whatever it was... wanted to know. "I... I-I-I'm his friend," he finally managed.

The man’s hand wrapped in his hassock and thumped him painfully against the ground. “Are you some sort of holy man?”

"If you want to live, get off him right now," Van Helsing said softly, his crossbow pointed at the man holding Carl down. He had lost Anna. He would not lose another friend in this God-forsaken country.

Velkan didn’t flinch in the slightest when confronted with the weapon. “Can you trust him?” he asked Van Helsing instead.

"With my life," Van Helsing replied. "I trust him enough to kill you for him. That answer your question?"

“Fine,” Velkan said, glaring down at Carl. “But you shouldn’t let him have a sword.”

Van Helsing cocked the crossbow, not liking the fact that the stranger hadn't released Carl yet. "I told you to get off of him. Do it or die." It felt wrong to threaten this man for some reason, as if Van Helsing knew him. He had always relied on his instincts in the past but he wasn't willing to take the chance with Carl's life at stake.

Velkan moved off of Carl with a grace that spoke to Van Helsing in a strange way. The movement was so familiar, vaguely reminding him of Anna. “I didn’t kill him,” Velkan pointed out. “I could have… easily.”

"And I promise you, you would have paid for it," Van Helsing told him. He kept the crossbow pointed at the other man with one hand and reached his other down to help Carl to his feet. "Now, want to tell us what you're doing here?"

“I’m here for you,” Velkan told him, narrowing his eyes as he watched Carl scamper to Van Helsing’s side.

"Here for me?" Van Helsing repeated, confused. He could sense no evil in the other man. It had touched him, for certain, but that was all. The feeling of having met this man somewhere before grew even stronger. "Do I know you, friend?"

“We have met before,” Velkan said and then couldn’t help but laugh at the irony. “But I am a little less hairy now.”

"Velkan..." Van Helsing said after a moment. The memory of the hate in Anna's eyes over the death of her brother still plagued him.

Velkan did a grand bow his father had taught him and ended with a flourish of his hand. “The one and only.”

"Care to explain how you've managed to come back from the dead?" Van Helsing pulled Carl back behind him and aimed the crossbow at Velkan's chest. If he was a werewolf again, he knew the arrows would only slow him down. He'd have to get back to his gear to get to anything silver.

“You don’t need to protect him for me,” Velkan hissed, not liking that Van Helsing’s first reaction was to protect the damned friar. “If I am a monster, then I am a monster of my sister’s creation, not the devil.”

"Your sister is de-dead," Van Helsing said, stumbling over the word. "She could not be responsible for this."

Velkan clutched at his head that was pounding in pain. “Don’t remind me,” he said in quiet agreement. “Generations of my family rest in heaven now, all except me.”

"Why?" Carl queried, speaking up from behind Van Helsing. He didn't particularly like cowering behind the other man but he knew Van Helsing was on edge right now. "You never asked to become a werewolf. Surely you would not be denied entrance to heaven because of that." He glanced at Van Helsing then, thinking of his friend. Would Van Helsing, too, be denied a final peace because of something that had been thrust upon him?

“Maybe it is for other sins then,” Velkan laughed bitterly. “Sins of the flesh you wouldn’t understand, holy man.”

"Oh, you might be surprised," Carl remarked, relieved for his friend's sake. Reaching up, he put his hands on Van Helsing's arm. "I think you can put that away now, Gabriel. I don't think he means us any harm."

“Don’t call him that!” Velkan snapped, taking a menacing step towards Carl.

Van Helsing took a step forward as well, intent on meeting the treat head-on. "He can call me anything he likes," Van Helsing said. He couldn't help but wonder about Velkan's rather odd behaviour where Carl was concerned. "What does it matter to you anyway?"

“I don’t know!” Velkan snapped back. He didn’t know why wanted the friar away from Van Helsing. “I don’t know half of the things that are filling my head right now.”

"He's in shock," Carl whispered to Van Helsing. "Let's get him back to the fire. Maybe once we get some food in him he'll start to make sense."

The pain in his head seemed to lessen as Van Helsing stepped closer. “I remember looking down at you,” Velkan whispered to Van Helsing. “I was with her but a moment, before they send me back. You were so sad…”

"Come on," Van Helsing said, lowering the weapon and taking Velkan by the arm. "Carl's right, we should go back to the fire." The last thing he wanted to talk about was Anna, especially to her brother. Not before he knew what was going on.

“You need to be careful in this part of the country,” Velkan said absently as he followed Van Helsing back to the fire. “There are ogres about.”

"Yes, we know. That's why we're here," Carl replied helpfully.

“Right,” Velkan said, scowling at Carl. He dropped on the bedroll that was obviously Van Helsing’s, marked by the man’s trademark hat. He picked up the hat and set it in his lap, fingers already starting to play with the leather. “Have you ever tried to kill an ogre before?”

"Not yet," Van Helsing said. He kept himself between Carl and Velkan, wary of the uncalled for tension between the two men. He grabbed a piece of rabbit from above the fire and handed it to Velkan. "Here, eat something. Maybe then you'll feel better."

“It’s cooked,” Velkan said, sniffing at the meat. The memory of his last meal was of raw, bleeding meat.

"Yeah," Van Helsing said, understanding immediately what Velkan was feeling. "It was hard for me to eat it that way at first, too. The smell kept putting me off. Carl finally forced me..."

“I’ll eat it,” Velkan said, cutting Van Helsing off from talking about Carl. “If you can, then I can.”

“He smells of you,” Velkan muttered under his breath, but then realized he must sound like a lunatic. He took a deep swig from the flask. “I never particularly liked holy men.”

"Velkan, there is nothing between Van Helsing and I other than friendship," Carl said softly. A holy man he might be, but that didn't mean he had no understanding of the ways of the world. "And I'm not much of a holy man."

“As he likes to say, he’s only a friar,” Van Helsing pointed out.

"Only a friar," Velkan repeated. "Have you taken your vow of celibacy, Friar?"

“There’s a lusty peasant woman who can testify that I have not,” Carl laughed, blushing under the cover of the night.

"Velkan... why does this concern you so?" Van Helsing asked.

“Everything about you concerns me now,” Velkan told him. He had give into his hunger and was starting to chew on the cooked rabbit.

"Why?" Van Helsing pressed. "I killed you and your sister. By rights, you should want me dead."

“She wanted to die,” Velkan answered, shrugging his shoulders. “Our family has never been bound for long on this earth.”

"So why did she send you back?" Van Helsing wondered what sort of power Anna had to be able to send her brother back to the land of the living. On the heels of that, he wondered why she didn't come back herself.

“To protect you,” Velkan answered. He realized how ravenous he was, but for some reason he didn’t reach for another piece of food without Van Helsing’s permission.

A nudge from Carl had Van Helsing pulling the rabbit from the spit and handing the majority of it to Velkan. He passed a piece to Carl, wanting to make sure he ate something. He was used to going without food for several days so missing one meal wouldn't bother him.

Despite the hunger pains he felt, Velkan looked at the rabbit leg in his hand. He held it out for Van Helsing to take. “You must eat,” he insisted.

"I ate earlier," Van Helsing told him, only partially lying. He had eaten lunch. "You go ahead and eat it."

“You’re lying,” Velkan said. “I can tell. Eat half and I’ll go hunting for more.”

"No," Van Helsing said. "I don't need to eat like everyone else. Ask Carl if you don't believe me. You eat and I'll hunt for more in the morning. Alright?"

Velkan would rather eat the meat than ask Carl for anything, especially about Van Helsing. “I earn my keep,” Velkan mumbled, his mouth already full of meat.

"Oh believe me, you will if you stay with us," Carl put in. "Everybody earns their keep with Van Helsing."

*

Velkan hadn’t slept most of the night, only letting himself doze occasionally. Instead he had kept his eyes fixed on Van Helsing’s sleeping form. The pain in his head had lessened now that he was in his presence.

Van Helsing had slept uneasily as well. He had felt eyes on him all during the night. Even knowing those eyes belonged to Velkan didn't ease him much. He was still leery of the man, especially his attitude toward Carl. For that reason alone, he had slept lightly, his hand only inches from his crossbow.

It was when the mountain mists were starting to roll in with the morning light that Van Helsing was awoken. His sat bolt upright with his crossbow aimed toward the noise. He ended up pointing his weapon at Velkan.

“I went hunting for you,” Velkan said, holding up three dead rabbits.

"Thanks," Van Helsing said after a moment. "Next time wake me and I'll go with you." He didn't like the thought of Velkan wandering around alone in the forest, especially this close to an ogre stronghold.

“You were sleeping,” Velkan said, unsure of whether he should approach or not. “I checked the perimeter to make sure nothing approached. They are fat rabbits.”

"They look good," Van Helsing said, sensing the young man's unease. "Come. Let's clean them and get breakfast started."

“What about him?” Velkan questioned, nodding his head towards the still snoring figure of Carl.

"The smell of food cooking will wake him soon enough," Van Helsing smiled. They cleaned the rabbits in silence for a few moments before Van Helsing spoke again. "He's a good man, you know."

Van Helsing’s smile when he mentioned Carl soured any good mood Velkan had. “He might be, but that doesn’t mean I have to like or trust him.”

"What is it with you?" Van Helsing asked, growing annoyed. He had only been trying to reassure Velkan about Carl but it seemed like any mention of the friar put the other man in a foul mood. "Why do you hate him so?"

“I don’t know,” Velkan answered sulkily. He poked the coals of the fire with a stick absently as Van Helsing continued to skin the rabbits. The idea of anyone but him around Van Helsing made him crazy.

"Well try to figure it out," Van Helsing told him. "In the meantime, the least you can do is be civil to him. If not for him, your family would be forever outside of heaven's gates."

Velkan winced at the mention of his family, knowing he may never join them. “It is not him that I have to thank for that,” Velkan said under his breath. “Nor is it him I can thank for walking the earth until our debt is paid.”

"You don't owe me anything," Van Helsing told him. "My actions were my own and I'll take the consequences. If guilt's the only thing keeping you here, you can leave now."

Velkan looked down at his hands, almost seeing the blood of his sister staining them. “I cannot leave you, even if I wanted to. I am tied to you in everything.”

Van Helsing shook his head and cursed softly. "They had no right to do this to you. You did nothing to deserve this."

“Anna said this way I wouldn’t be alone…” Velkan said in a lost voice. “She promised I’d never be alone, even when you died, I’d go with you.”

"What?" Van Helsing gasped. He silently prayed that Velkan was lying or mistaken or just somehow wrong. He did not want to be responsible for this man's life. His own was too fraught with danger to have another so helplessly bound to him.

“I’m to walk the world with you,” Velkan confirmed. “For as long, or as little, as you live.”

"They had no right," Van Helsing seethed. "I could die today! They had no right to send you back here only to die again because of me. Please, God, do not make me responsible for his death a second time."

Velkan cringed back at Van Helsing’s violent reaction. He didn’t remember much about the place he had been while he was dead, only that it was peaceful and he didn’t want to leave. He remembered Anna saying Van Helsing needed him, but Van Helsing didn’t want him now. His head hurt with the mere thought of leaving Van Helsing and he clutched at his skull.

Van Helsing somehow *felt* Velkan's pain. His hand shot out and he grabbed the other man, pulling him in close. "It's alright," he soothed, berating himself for causing the man yet more pain. "We'll figure something out. It'll be alright."

“I’ll not be a nuisance,” Velkan promised, mumbling against Van Helsing’s chest. “I can hunt for both of us. I can fight…”

"Shhh... You would never be a nuisance," Van Helsing said quietly. "I'm sorry I yelled. I wasn't angry with you."

“You don’t want to be cursed with me,” Velkan countered. “Gabriel, they said you had been alone too long…”

"I'm not alone anymore, though, am I?" Van Helsing replied, still trying to calm the young man. "You're here with me now. I won't ever have to be alone again. That's why they sent you, isn't it? So I wouldn't be alone anymore?"

Velkan’s hand had worked it’s way into Van Helsing’s coat and lay against the warmth of his cloth-covered chest. “Yes,” he confirmed. Being this close to the other man meant his head didn’t hurt anymore, in fact, his body felt like it was singing.

"Would it be better if I left?" Carl asked softly, his voice startling the other two men. He had heard most of their conversation and understood now why Velkan had been sent to them. He also thought he understood part of the man's hostility toward him. He didn't want to leave. Van Helsing was his friend, but he would if that was what they wanted.

Velkan was shocked out of his inner contemplation of Van Helsing when he heard Carl’s voice. His eyes snapped opened and he realized how close he was to Van Helsing. He scrambled away from the hunter, stumbling back onto the cold ground. He couldn’t let Van Helsing be embarrassed by his actions, or he might try to send him away.

"It's alright, Velkan," Van Helsing said when he saw the panic flash in the other man's eyes. "Carl didn't mean to startle you. And as for leaving, Carl, I, for one, don't want you to go."

Velkan said through clenched teeth, “I want whatever he wants.”

"Are you sure?" Carl pressed. "I know my presence distresses you and my words have done little to ease your concerns. I will tell you again, however, there is nothing more than friendship between Van Helsing and I. We are not lovers, Velkan."

“That’s none of my concern,” Velkan said, moving further away from Van Helsing. His hatred of Carl grew for drawing it to the man’s attention that he might want him that way. “I’m just here to protect him.”

"Really?" Carl replied. "I thought you said you were here because Anna didn't want him to be alone anymore."

“I am here to give him whatever he wants,” Velkan snapped. And Velkan had a sinking feeling that didn’t include what he wanted. He might have known Van Helsing less than a day in the truest sense, but he knew him better than he had know even Anna.

"Carl, leave it be," Van Helsing said when Carl opened his mouth to reply. "I want you here so you're not leaving. As for Velkan, I don't think any of us understand all of his reasons for being here yet. We'll just figure them out as we go. Agreed?"

“There might be some texts I could consult,” Carl answered. “But they are back in Rome. When I write back to report about Velkan’s appearance, I’ll ask them to consult…”

"No!" Van Helsing said quickly. "You are to say nothing to Rome about Velkan."

“But why not? When we return, I am sure they will want to talk to him,” Carl argued. “There hasn’t been a messenger sent from the heavens in… well over a millennia. Not since Saint…”

"Have you so quickly forgotten Rome's orders about Frankenstein?" Van Helsing shot back. "We were to kill him. Though there was no evil in his heart, they ordered us to kill him. What happens if they do the same with Velkan? What if they consider *him* a danger?"

“I am not a danger to you!” Velkan nearly shouted, enraged that anyone could even consider the possibility.

Van Helsing grabbed him by the front of his shirt and jerked him forward until their faces nearly touched. "I know you're not," he hissed. "But Rome might decide otherwise. I won't take the chance."

Velkan could feel Van Helsing’s breath on him. In his old life, he would never back down from anyone or anything, but he had been reborn into this existence. He closed his eyes and shivered, whispering softly, “I do your bidding.”

Van Helsing felt something inside him stir at the softly spoken words. He released Velkan, afraid he might do something inappropriate if he did not. He did not understand these sudden feelings the younger man seemed to provoke in him and they worried him. With Velkan so obviously pliant it would be all too easy to take advantage of him.

“You should eat,” Velkan said in heavy voice. The rabbit he had caught earlier was now cooked over the fire. “I can pack up your things while you eat.”

"You are not my servant, Velkan," Van Helsing admonished gently. "We will all eat then we shall pack up and head to the stronghold. I fear we will all need our strength for the job ahead."

“Yes, Gabriel,” Velkan told him, giving the other man a short bow of his head.

They ate in silence, each man consumed by his private thoughts. Carl was growing concerned for the new member of their group. He could see what apparently Van Helsing did not, or did not want to. He knew they could not keep this from Rome forever, not without lying to the Church and even Van Helsing would not do that. He might be a lot of things, but he was still a holy man in his own right.

“We only have two horses,” Carl pointed out once their meagre possessions were stowed and the fire was dowsed with dirt.

Van Helsing started to suggest that Velkan take Carl's horse and the small man would ride with him. One look at Velkan's face stopped him. "Velkan rides with me until we can acquire another horse," he said instead.

“I can run along beside,” Velkan said. He didn’t want Van Helsing’s steed to be winded from carrying two men when a fight could come at any time.

"My horse is strong. He's carried the weight of two before," Van Helsing told him. "Besides, the stronghold isn't far. I'd rather the horse be winded than you."

Velkan approached Van Helsing and then gifted Carl with a scowl. “Who has ridden with you before?”

"Carl has on occasion," Van Helsing replied. "A few others here and there. No one of any importance."

Velkan was somewhat mollified by the words. “You will not need to ride with anyone else while I am around.”

Van Helsing nodded and mounted his horse. He held a hand out for Velkan and pulled him up onto the horse behind him. His body gave a start when he felt strong arms slip around his waist but he ignored it, chastising himself mentally. "Ready, Carl?"

“He’s ready,” Velkan answered before Carl could. “He’s already talking to his horse.”

"He always does that," Van Helsing chuckled. "Says the horse is more apt to run faster if he knows it's a friend on his back."

Velkan’s hand and worked into Van Helsing’s coat again, laying flat on his abdomen. “Transylvanian horses need no prodding to run fast. Everything in our country is bred sturdy and loyal.”

"Velkan..." Van Helsing groaned softly. The feel of the other man's rough hand on his stomach was making it difficult for Van Helsing to ignore. His body was responding in ways it hadn't in many, many years and he was helpless to stop it.

“Yes, Gabriel?” Velkan asked.

"Hold... hold on," Van Helsing replied. He was aware of Carl watching them as he continued to whisper to his mount, but the sound of his name on Velkan's lips was nearly his undoing. He knew he should stop this... should at least call off the ride to the stronghold. He was in no shape for a battle. To do so, however, would call even more attention to himself and he wasn't prepared to be that vulnerable. Not yet.

*

The battle with the ogre had been brutal, but nothing really either Van Helsing or Velkan hadn’t dealt with before. The monster was dead and they walked out of the cave, crunching human remains under their boots.

“You’ve been cut,” Carl noticed and reached out to touch Velkan.

Velkan jerked back, hissing as the movement pulled the wound open even more. He did not want the friar touching him, though the man had proven himself in battle. "It's nothing," he said, remembering Van Helsing's admonishment to try to get along with the holy man.

“What if the wound got some ogre blood in it?” Carl insisted. “It will start to fester if it’s not seen to immediately.”

"Let him tend you," Van Helsing said firmly. He needed Velkan well and Carl was much better at tending wounds than he was.

A direct command from Van Helsing, Velkan could not ignore. “Yes, Gabriel,” he said, bowing his head.

Carl gave Van Helsing a look that clearly said we will speak of this later, then he took Velkan by the arm and led him over to a nearby rock. He sat him down and began rummaging through the contents of his medical bag. The wound was ragged but shallow. Carl cleaned it carefully then bandaged it. "I'll want to check it in the morning to make sure no infection sets in."

“It doesn’t matter,” Velkan said, shrugging his shoulders. “It’s not like I can die from it.”

"No, but you can be slowed down from it," Carl said. "It's bad enough Van Helsing worries about me during a fight. He can't look after us both."

Guilt flooded Velkan. He was here to take care of Van Helsing and that meant he had to stay healthy. “Sorry, friar, I was being selfish,” Velkan said. “Van Helsing should not have to worry about me.”

"Now that's the right attitude," Carl said brightly. "I'll check this again in the morning just to make sure. Please tell me if the pain worsens or you feel feverish."

They set up camp in a sheltered valley near the stronghold, with Van Helsing intent on staying near to make sure the ogre hadn’t left any allies or offspring. Now that the fight was over, Velkan felt lost around the camp. Carl puttered starting a fire and unpacking essentials. Van Helsing was sitting against a tree and Velkan could only guess that he was praying. Seeing Van Helsing’s bloody sword, he decided he should take care of the man’s weaponry.

"You don't have to do that," Van Helsing said without opening his eyes. He'd been wondering when Velkan would come to him, noticing the way he seemed lost about the camp. "Why don't you sit with me for a bit instead?"

“Your sword should be cleaned,” Velkan said uncertainly. “It could also do with a sharpening.”

"Alright," Van Helsing relented. "But do it here. I... I want you close."

Velkan didn’t see a rag he could use to clean the blood, so when he sat down, he started to use his own clothing to clean the putrid blood from the valuable sword. He was still wearing the finery he had been buried in, now covered in blood and the dirt from his own grave. He could only guess that the villagers had discovered his body in the forest and buried him as the gypsy prince he had been born.

"Use this," Carl said, tossing him a rag. "And when you're done, both of you should get some sleep. You're exhausted."

“You can both sleep,” Velkan offered. “I’ll keep watch.”

"No. Carl's right," Van Helsing said. "We're both done in. Besides, he can never sleep after a battle. He always has to write everything down."

“I have to finish this,” Velkan insisted. “Your weapons must be perfect. I can’t allow it to rust before you next battle.”

"Fine. You finish that, then lay down with me." That said, Van Helsing slid down the tree until he was laying flat on the ground. He pillowed his head on his arm and closed his eyes, letting his body rest and recharge.

Carl watched from across the fire as Velkan worked on the sword. He watched with growing alarm as it grew into several hours and finally had to intervene when he saw Velkan test the sharpness of the blade on his arm.

"Enough," Carl said, coming over and laying his hand on the sword. "He wanted you to rest with him. He won't like it if he awakens and finds you still doing this." He knew he wasn't being fair, using Velkan's obvious subservience to Van Helsing against him, but the man needed rest.

“But I have to make sure it is perfect,” Velkan said. “It could be sharper. I have already failed him so much.”

"How have you failed him?" Carl asked.

“You were right, he worries about me,” Velkan said, turning tired eyes on Van Helsing’s sleeping form. “He shouldn’t worry about me.”

"He worries about everyone," Carl told him. "There's nothing you can do that will change that. Everyone he cares about he worries for. It is his way."

“He cannot worry about me,” Velkan shook his head. “It is my purpose to care for him.”

"Oh, Velkan. He could no more stop worrying for you than he could stop breathing. As I said, everyone he cares for, he worries about. You are within that circle, friend."

“I have to finish the sword,” Velkan said, reaching for the weapon again. “After that, I’ll start making arrows to replenish his stock.”

"No," Carl said, pulling the sword out of Velkan's reach. "You will lay with your master and rest. I will finish the sword and you can check it when you awaken."

Velkan didn’t argue when Carl called Van Helsing his Master. “I should watch over him as he sleeps…” he argued, his own voice betraying his exhaustion.

"I believe he gave you his instructions. Will you disobey him?" Carl pressed.

After a moment, Velkan answered, “N-No… but if anything happens to him while I sleep, I’ll kill you.”

"If anything happens to him while you sleep I will already be dead," Carl replied. He moved away then, taking the sword with him. He watched as Velkan finally gave in to sleep, curling around his master's body protectively as he did so.

*

When Van Helsing awoke he was lying on his back, with someone warm plastered to his chest. He could feel the warmth that was all too unfamiliar and he stiffened. “Anna?” he murmured in his half sleep.

Velkan went rigid when Van Helsing called out the name of his sister. "No, Gabriel. I'm sorry," he said softly. Inside he wanted to howl his pain to the heavens. It was not fair. He was bound to this man body and soul yet he called out for another.

“You smell like her,” Van Helsing said absently starting to caress Velkan’s hair.

"I... I cannot be my sister for you. I would if I were able, but I can not," Velkan said. He pulled away and sat up. He could not be Anna. He couldn't. Anyone but his sister and he could force himself to pretend, even if it was the friar he wanted, but he would not sully his sister so.

As Velkan pulled away, Van Helsing fully awoke and reached to pull Velkan toward him again. “What are you talking about?” he demanded.

"It is my sister you wish for, not I," Velkan said. "I can not pretend to be her for you. If it were anyone else..."

It was too early in the morning to process whatever Velkan was mumbling on about. “I never asked you to be Anna,” he muttered. “I made my peace with her and know she is happy.”

"Then why did you call her name?" Velkan asked.

“I don’t know,” he grumbled. “Go back to sleep Velkan. I don’t want to talk about this right now.”

"Van Helsing!" Carl snapped. "We need to talk." He didn't know if his friend was simply ignorant of Velkan's submission to him or not, but he meant to find out. He would not just sit by and watch the man be ordered around like a faithful hound.

“Let him sleep, friar!” Velkan snapped back. His own internal self torture paled when it came to seeing to Van Helsing’s well being.

Carl actually felt the menace in Velkan's words and took a step back. He knew better than to show weakness but he couldn't help it. "I... I will gather some roots for dinner," he said as he backed into the forest, leaving the two men alone.

Velkan watched the friar back away with satisfaction. But his satisfaction was only momentary as he remembered his failure… his failure at not being Anna. His beloved sister had always succeeded at everything, at being the one to end the family curse, being their father’s favourite, stealing Van Helsing’s heart and finally being able to stay in heaven.

Van Helsing had watched the exchange but did not interfere. He wanted to chastise Velkan for being so harsh with Carl but he couldn't bring himself to. Instead, he held out his arm and beckoned to the other man. "Come, Velkan. Lay with me. Let us rest until Carl returns with dinner."

“Yes, Gabriel,” Velkan answered, trying to keep some small dignity and moved quickly to obey.

*

All throughout dinner Van Helsing could tell something was wrong with Carl. He thought at first it was just his early altercation with Velkan but the friar seemed comfortable enough around the other man. He was the one that Carl seemed to have a problem with and he wanted to find out why.

“I need to speak with you,” Carl told Van Helsing. He had waited until Velkan became insistent that he needed to examine Van Helsing’s crossbow to make sure it was working perfectly.

Van Helsing nodded, relieved. "Keep an eye on the camp," he told Velkan as he stood up to follow Carl into the woods. "We won't be far."

Velkan looked like he wanted to say something, but instead he answered, “Yes, Gabriel.”

Carl stiffened at the meek reply and marched angrily into the woods. He moved far enough away from camp that Velkan wouldn't be able to hear them but not so far that they couldn't keep an eye on things. He waited until Van Helsing had joined him before rounding on the man. "I know you're not a stupid man, Gabriel, nor are you dense."

“What is this all about, Carl?” Van Helsing sighed. “Is this about some new weapon?”

"No!" Carl hissed, glaring at the man. "This is about Velkan. For whatever reason he was brought back here to help you. Tell me something, Gabriel. Do his actions of late speak of the proud gypsy heritage he comes from to you?"

“I never knew him,” Van Helsing tried to defend himself. “He fought as bravely as Anna. I don’t see a problem with his behaviour.”

"You don't see a problem with a gypsy prince bowing to your every command?" Carl pressed. "He has vowed his love to you, but you have his pride as well. He would do anything you ordered him to. Anything, Gabriel."

“His love?” Van Helsing scoffed. “Did you hit your head again?”

"Yes, Gabriel. His love, his life, his everything. Why do you think he's so concerned about what my place is in your life? He sees me as a threat and nothing I say is going to change that. If you don't believe me, then order him to do something you *know* the man would refuse. Order him and watch while he performs like a trained hound."

“He will have to go then,” was Van Helsing’s immediate reply, without consideration. He did not question Carl’s wisdom. “He will have to return to his people.”

"Are you insane?" Carl nearly shouted. "You can't send him back to his people. For one thing, he wouldn't go and for another, it would probably kill him. He was sent here to help you. You will not send him away."

"I never asked for his help!" Van Helsing hissed back. "I never asked for whatever power we serve to send him. If I had, I would have asked for Anna!"

"No, you did not ask for this burden but God has seen fit to bestow it upon you," Carl replied. "You will not send him away just to ease your own conscience. Nor will I stand by and watch you order him about like your faithful dog."

"I do not," Van Helsing denied. "I do no such thing."

“Not intentionally, no,” Carl relented, seeing the stricken look on his friend's face. "But whatever you tell him, he does. You say sleep and he sleeps, whether he wants to or not. Gabriel, all I'm trying to do is make you aware of the situation. Nothing more."

“I will amend my behaviour,” Van Helsing said gruffly and turned on his heel to go back to the camp.

When he walked into the sight of Velkan, the young man actually smiled up at him a little. “I fixed your crossbow. What else can I do for you?”

"I can tend my own things," Van Helsing said, Carl's words of a few short minutes ago ringing in his ears. He wondered how on earth he could have mistaken Velkan's actions for anything other than what they were.

“No, I shall do it while you eat,” Velkan said. He was able to say this because Van Helsing hadn’t made it a command and he simply chalked the man’s mood to something the friar had done. He would speak with the holy man later about upsetting Van Helsing. “I made a stew with the left over rabbit and roots.”

"I said, I'll tend it myself," Van Helsing repeated. He wasn't sure how to interact with the man without giving orders. It was what he did. He told people what to do and they did it. He knew no other way to be.

By the tone of his voice, Van Helsing was not to be argued with. Velkan got up, already feeling uneasy with the short peace he had found with Van Helsing. “I shall just rub down your horse, then.”

"Velkan, sit down!" Van Helsing snapped, cursing himself as soon as the words left his mouth. "I'm sorry. You may do as you wish. You do not need to attend to me or my horse. I can do so myself."

Velkan sat down like Van Helsing had told him to do, but moved to the other side of the fire. He pulled his knees up to his chest and glared at the man from across the flames. He didn’t understand what he had done wrong to be punished by having his one usefulness taken away.

Carl had witnessed the exchange from the woods and cursed Van Helsing. He knew the man was trying but he was only making matters worse. He would hold his tongue for the moment in the hopes that Van Helsing could sort this mess out on his own. If things weren't better by morning, he'd have to handle it himself.

*

The full moon cast a light over the woods as Carl gathered wood for their camp. The day had been tense, with Velkan not moving from the spot where he had sat down. The last order Van Helsing had given him had been to sit, and it was the last thing the young man had done that day. He had even refused to eat and Van Helsing had refused to order him.

Carl had sought the relative sanctuary of the woods to escape the oppressive silence. He was going to have to talk to Van Helsing again if things kept up as they were. It was obvious Velkan was bound to Gabriel in some way though Gabriel didn't seem to notice.

“You shouldn’t wander so far away from the safety of the fire, holy man,” Velkan’s distinctive growl rang out in the night air. “Something might be tempted to kill you.”

"I'm sure I'm safe enough," Carl replied, trying to keep the unease from his voice. He knew Velkan was only baiting him but his voice reminded him too much of Van Helsing's when he had been fighting the effects of the werewolf venom.

“Mmm, maybe?” Velkan said, prowling closer. “Maybe not.”

"If you're trying to scare me, Velkan, you're wasting your time," Carl said without turning around. He could feel the hair on the back of his neck prickling as Velkan approached and it was all he could do to stop himself from running headlong into the woods.

“What did you say to turn him against me?” Velkan suddenly hissed.

"Nothing," Carl said, finally turning to face the other man. "I simply explained about your... condition... to him. That's all."

“My *condition*?” Velkan shouted. “He hates me now. I could live with his pity when there was a little hope… but now you took that away from me.”

"Don't be ridiculous," Carl said without thinking. "He doesn't hate you and he never pitied you. He's just... trying not to take advantage of you. I would think you'd be happy not being ordered around like the family pet."

Velkan pushed Carl violently to the ground and was quickly sitting on his chest. “You know nothing of what I would have taken!” he hissed. “What I want or will take is none of your concern!”

Carl tried to scramble back, but Velkan had him pinned. He could see the anger on the man's face as well as a wild desperation. In that moment, he knew that Velkan was going to kill him and there was nothing he could do.

“Get off of him, Valerious!” Van Helsing’s crisp voice shattered the tense situation.

Velkan's head whipped around to stare at Van Helsing. Instead of moving, though, he snarled at the other man and grabbed Carl by the throat. He would rid them of this interloper then Van Helsing would be his master alone.

Van Helsing pounced and knocked Velkan off of Carl. He was incensed that the boy had disobeyed his orders to leave Carl alone. He snarled at him, barring his teeth in a way that was very close to the days he had been a werewolf.

Velkan snarled back, snapping at Van Helsing and just missing his ear. His blood was running hot and he growled and snarled as the other man fought him. He caught sight of the friar moving away from them and was glad. Maybe now the fool would understand his place and not cross him again.

Van Helsing backhanded Velkan sharply, drawing his attention back to him. “That man is under my protection!”

"Then maybe you should try protecting him for once," Velkan snarled back, defiance singing in his veins. He knew Van Helsing would put him down harshly for it, but that was exactly what he craved.

“Maybe I should cast you off for your defiance,” Van Helsing growled, starting to thump Velkan against the ground.

Velkan paled at the words, the fight knocked out of him by a torrent of fear. "No," he whispered, gripping Van Helsing's arms tightly. "Please... I won't touch him again..." Even as he begged, his pride shrieked at him to fight, but he didn't listen to it. He would do whatever he had to stay by Van Helsing's side.

Van Helsing snarled again, somewhat capitulated by Velkan’s submission. His blood was singing with the full moon, forever connected to the creature he had once been. He forgot about any sense Carl had tried to talk into him about Velkan being a free man. He leaned in close and hissed in Velkan’s face, “You will obey me!”

"Yes," Velkan whispered back, his body trembling as Van Helsing continued to hold him down and snarl. "I won't disobey you again. I swear it."

Van Helsing’s hair fell across Velkan’s face as the older man started to nuzzle Velkan’s neck. “I could kill you…” he whispered like it was a love poem. “But I won’t.”

"You have but to say the word and I will do the deed myself," Velkan swore. The touch of Van Helsing's lips on his neck was undoing him as he fought for control. He was growing hard in his pants and wanted nothing more than to lose himself in this man.

Just as Van Helsing was about to kiss Velkan, he was stopped as Carl whacked down a large wooden limb on his back. “Get off of him!” Carl cried out in panic.

Van Helsing was knocked forward, but quickly recovered. He sat up over Velkan and grabbed the limb that Carl had hit him with. "Go back to the camp," he ordered harshly, his voice deep and rough, then shoved Carl back hard into a tree.

“Leave us,” Velkan added to Gabriel’s command, though he was lying on the ground his arm wrapped around Van Helsing’s waist. “He’s mine!”

Carl knew better than to try taking on the both of them and moved back toward the campsite. Whatever was affecting them had them fully in its grip. All he could hope was that they didn't kill each other… or anyone else. The best he could do for them was pray.

“He’ll be fine,” Velkan said almost desperately. He didn’t want Van Helsing to leave him.

"Don't worry," Van Helsing said, smiling ferally as he ground down against the younger man. "I'm not going after him. He's not the one I want."

“I’m not the one you want either!” Velkan snapped, hating to be reminded that Gabriel wanted his sister, not him.

Van Helsing snarled and bent down. He nuzzled against Velkan's neck for a moment then bit down hard while grinding his erection into the other man. "Can smell you," he moaned, pulling back and licking his lips. "Can smell the want... the fire inside you."

“Because I am doomed for hell,” Velkan groaned back. “You make me burn…”

"Never going to hell," Van Helsing murmured. "Your place is with me. I mean to have you, Velkan. Now."

“Then try to take me!” Velkan hissed, starting to struggle again, but it was only an illusion to excite Gabriel.

Van Helsing moaned, arousal surging through him as Velkan fought him. He held him down roughly, using one hand to hold his wrists above his head in a grip hard enough to bruise while his other hand tore open his shirt.

Velkan was happy to see the clothing he had been buried in torn to pieces. He would rather go naked than wear them another day. He continued to struggle as Van Helsing raked his fingernails down his chest.

Van Helsing growled, the sound rumbling deep in his chest as he became lost in the feel of Velkan under him. Still holding his wrists, he trailed his free hand down to the man's pants and began jerking at the fastenings, intent on stripping him naked.

Velkan’s skin itched in a way it hadn’t since he was a werewolf. On his way to Van Helsing he had tried to will the transformation to make it a quicker journey, but he soon learned that even though he might retain enhanced senses and strength, he was no longer a werewolf.

Van Helsing was feeling the same thing. His entire body tingled and he was growing frantic to take the other man and proclaim his dominance once and for all. Finally the fastenings gave way and he was able to jerk the pants down Velkan's legs to gather at his knees. Van Helsing leaned back long enough to quickly flip Velkan over, then he was pressing down against him, using his weight to pin him once more.

When Van Helsing entered Velkan, it was unprepared and painful, but he didn’t care. When Velkan screamed, it was encouragement. He had experienced pain beyond belief when transforming as a werewolf. This was nothing compared to that.

"Mine!" Van Helsing snarled as he held Velkan down and began to thrust into him hard and fast. The tiny part of his mind that was still rational knew he would regret being so rough come the morning but he didn't care. The animal in him was running the show now and it was demanding to mate.

Velkan stopped struggling, giving up any pretence of resistance. He would have pushed his hips up to meet Van Helsing’s thrusts if he could have. He felt at peace for the first time in perhaps his entire life. Even before the werewolf had bitten him, he had felt lost. Van Helsing was the reason for his existence now… not his family, Dracula or revenge. Only Gabriel.

Van Helsing moaned when he felt Velkan stop resisting him. He slowed his pace a bit then and brought his head down to nuzzle at the other man's neck. Now that Velkan was no longer fighting him some of the rage began to fade.

Velkan was hard and desperate for Val Helsing to touch. “Gabriel…” he moaned frantically, not able to vocalize anything beyond the name.

"Mine," Van Helsing said again. He gripped Velkan's hips with both hands and pulled him back until he was on his hands and knees. He began to thrust again and at the same time slipped one arm around Velkan's waist and took hold of his cock.

That one word coupled with Van Helsing’s possessive touch sent Velkan deeper into ecstasy. He was soon spilling over his lover’s hand and howling out to the moon.

Van Helsing quickly followed, pounding into his lover's spasming body. His voice joined Velkan's as he threw back his head and howled at the moon as his seed poured into his lover.

“You can’t be rid of me now,” Velkan said after awhile, his head hanging down.

"Same goes for me. You're stuck with me, Velkan. And I plan on living a very long time."

“Maybe this isn’t purgatory after all,” Velkan laughed. He didn’t care if he sounded like a lunatic. He wanted to shout his joy to the heavens.

"Probably the closest to heaven I'll ever get," Van Helsing replied. Slowly, he pulled back until his lax penis slid free. He wasn't surprised to see blood streaking it after their rather brutal coupling. "You want to head back to the camp or sleep here tonight?"

Velkan’s forehead meddled into a scowl as he tried to contemplate making a decision. He leaned back against Van Helsing to rest his head against the strong shoulder. “Are you starting that again?” he complained.

"Starting what again?" Van Helsing asked as he pulled Velkan tight against him.

“Pretending that you don’t own my soul,” Velkan sighed.

"We own each other," Van Helsing replied. "I just didn't know if you wanted to go back to the camp. I kinda like it here... just the two of us. We're close enough to hear if anything happens."

“If anything happened to the friar, you would never forgive yourself,” Velkan told him.

"He's my friend. But I'm not sure if he'd understand what just happened between us. We're close enough to hear if anyone approaches the campsite."

“Yes, Gabriel,” Velkan answered. It was almost a test to see if Van Helsing would accept his submission.

Van Helsing growled softly and bit down on Velkan's neck. "Do you have any idea how hard it makes me when you say that?" he whispered. "Yes, Gabriel. Like you'd pleasure me in any way I wanted if only I command it."

“I would!” Velkan growled back. “I would do anything you command of me. To have someone… anything of my own, you don’t understand, Gabriel. My soul was never my own and the thought of walking through this life alone would be my hell. I know nothing else but fighting evil.”

Van Helsing felt his cock stir at Velkan's words. Though the dark part of him had calmed after their coupling, it still lurked inside him. Velkan's words seemed to call to it and he rubbed his awakening erection against the other man's hip.

“Anything, Gabriel…” Velkan moaned. “Any time… any place…”

"Use your mouth on me," Van Helsing said darkly, letting the madness take him once more.

Velkan pulled away from his lover and then pushed Van Helsing back against the damp ground. This was a matter of his own desire and craving to give Van Helsing anything he asked for.

Their second coupling didn't last any longer than their first. Van Helsing was mesmerized by the sight of Velkan's mouth on him, worshipping his flesh. He managed to order the young man to stroke himself while he sucked him and they came together once more with Van Helsing's orgasm triggering Velkan's this time.

They fell into a heap on the forest floor, Van Helsing wrapping his arms around Velkan. Van Helsing looked up at the moon and prayed that this young man would never be taken from him.

*

A few hours before dawn, Van Helsing awoke with a start. For a moment, he couldn't pinpoint what had awoken him. Then the sound of horses mixed with the garbled sound of voices, drifted to him from the direction of the campsite.

It was Carl’s sudden scream that drove him into complete consciousness. As he jumped to his feet, Velkan also woke up beneath him. Van Helsing headed toward the camp as fast as he could. He knew Velkan would be close on his heels. He prayed that they wouldn't be too late, chastising himself for leaving Carl at the camp unprotected.

Van Helsing burst into clearing, only to be stopped dead in his tracks by a booming voice. “Come any closer and he dies!”

"Let him go," Van Helsing commanded. "He's not the one you want."

“You’re right,” the voice answered as a man stepped into the light of the fire. He was wearing clothing from the Far East and looked distinctly Asian. “I’m after the man who killed my brother and his kin.”

"That would be me," Van Helsing replied, unsure exactly who this man's brother was. It didn't matter, though. Carl had killed no one. He was the murderer.

The man threw Carl away from him and several small creatures came from behind to restrain him. “My name is Kuai Deng,” he said. “You killed my brother Dracula.”

Van Helsing spared a glance at Carl, wincing inside at the blood running down his face. "Dracula was your brother, huh?" he said, stalling. He didn't want to make a move with those things still holding Carl. He remembered them quite clearly from Dracula's lair, all claws and sharp, pointy teeth.

“A brother through the shared gift of the Dark Lord,” Kuai Deng said. “I felt his death pains from my lair in the East.”

"So why don't you let him go and you and I can discuss it," Van Helsing offered. He had felt Velkan approaching cautiously and was glad the younger man hadn't simply charged into the middle of things. If Velkan could get Carl away from those creatures, then Van Helsing would be free to destroy this demon.

“I would stop your catamite from approaching any further,” Kuai Deng said coldly. “Any closer and I’ll give the command to my servants to destroy your other toy.”

Van Helsing stiffened, his eyes going immediately to Carl as the creatures holding him began to hiss. "Velkan, stay back," he said, swallowing thickly.

“Do you know what I want, Van Helsing?” the vampire asked.

"No, but I think you're about to tell me." Van Helsing's body was tight as a spring, ready to attack should the opportunity arise. He didn't like the way this was going at all. Not only did this demon have Carl but it knew of Velkan as well.

“I’m going to make you feel the pain my brother felt before he died… losing his beloved brides and offspring,” Kuai Deng spat. “I think it would do to take your catamites away from you.”

"No!" Van Helsing shouted, taking a step forward. "They are innocent in this. I'm the one you want to punish."

“You’re right, and that would hurt you much more than death,” the vampire announce and then, with a simple flick of his hand, signalled his minions to attack.

Van Helsing charged forward and headed for Carl. He trusted Velkan to hold his own for the moment. Before he could even get close, however, something slammed into the back of his head hard enough to drive him to his knees. Another blow followed and then all was darkness.

*

The sharp smell of blood assaulted his nostrils as Van Helsing fought off the pain and blackness. His eyes snapped open and he called out, “Velkan!”

He forced himself to his knees, his body rebelling at the movement. Dread washed over him when he heard no answering call and he began to slowly crawl toward where he had last sensed Velkan.

There was a dark pool of blood that stained the earth, the unnatural redness apart in the now bright sun. It was Velkan’s blood without question. Van Helsing knew it simply by the smell.

He refused to believe he was dead, shaking his head hard enough to start the ground spinning. God would not be so cruel as to give him Velkan only to snatch him away again. He had to believe there was still a chance.

As he followed the tracks of the minions, trying to read the outcome, he came across shards of Carl’s robes nicked in the thorns of the bushes. They had left the clearing still struggling and that gave him a little hope.

As he tracked them, he tried to steel himself for what he might find. The vampire had threatened to kill the two men. He had no doubt that he would follow through with that threat. But if that was all he wanted, he would have left their bodies in the clearing.

He followed the tracks of the Dwergi until he came to a cave in the side of a slopping Transylvanian hill. The cave would give the vampire cover and also force any intruders in through one opening.

As he tried to creep in, the vampire's voice resounded throughout the cavern. "I was beginning to wonder if you were going to show. I thought you might have decided you didn't want them anymore." At the mention of them, the vampire motioned to the two figures chained to opposite walls of the cave.

He had killed Dracula in the form of a werewolf, but now he had been “cured”. He only retained superior human strength and senses. “I killed Dracula, what makes you think I won’t kill you now?” he bluffed.

"You may try," the vampire conceded. "But in doing so you will doom both of your catamites to death. I have but to signal and my servants will slaughter them and feast on their flesh."

“You can have me if you let them both go,” Van Helsing offered.

"No," the vampire replied, smiling widely. He had expected Van Helsing's noble offer. Simply killing the man, however, would be too quick. No, he wanted Van Helsing to suffer for what he had done.

“If you let them go, I’ll promise not to pursue you,” Van Helsing tried again. “We’ll leave Transylvania, and you, in peace.”

"No," the vampire said again, pleased with the growing worry he sensed in the other man. He already knew what he was going to do... what he was going to make Van Helsing do. He simply wanted to play with him for a bit first.

“Tell me what you want,” Van Helsing demanded. If he had to, he would kill Velkan and Carl rather than let them fall into the clutches of the Dwergi.

"I want you to feel pain like you've never felt before," the vampire began. "I want you to know what it's like to lose something precious to you. Quite simply, I want you to choose."

“Velkan,” Van Helsing said instantly. There was no moment of thought, just a gut reaction. He said it in a tone that spoke of no mental torture while making the decision.

"Very well." The vampire motioned to his minions and they moved to release Velkan. "I would have thought the priest meant something to you, but perhaps I was mistaken. At any rate, you will have lost one of your number and my demons will be well fed. Take him and go, Van Helsing."

When Velkan was released, he fell to the floor. He didn’t have the strength to stand, but Van Helsing was at his side in an instant. “Gabriel… no,” Velkan croaked. “I cannot die as long as you live, but the friar can. I’ll survive whatever they throw at me… make the trade.”

"Too late, little whore," the vampire laughed after hearing Velkan's quiet words. "Take him and go or my Dwergi will feast on all of you." He clapped his hands and the creatures seemed to swarm out of the very walls. In seconds, Carl was literally covered by the foul things and all Van Helsing could do was watch.

Van Helsing already lived with the fact that he was murderer. He picked Velkan up and started to flee from the cave, even as Carl’s screams reached his ears. He was already damned, but he could not deny what he felt for Velkan now.

*

A day had passed since their flight from the vampire's lair. Carl's dying screams had followed them as they ran, echoing in their heads when their ears could no longer pick up the sounds. In all that time, Van Helsing hadn't spoken as the guilt gnawed at him. Finally, as the sun rose on the second day, he broke the silence. "I have to go back," he said softly.

“Let me do it, Gabriel,” Velkan answered. His own guilt battled with the perverse delight that Van Helsing had chosen him and then would double for even thinking of happiness when Carl had been sacrificed for him.

"No," Van Helsing replied, his voice breaking. "I have to... he deserves... he was my friend. I let him die."

Velkan had tried to touch Van Helsing once when they were safely away from the cave, but Gabriel had brushed his hand away, turning from him. Velkan tried to touch him again and laid his hand on Van Helsing’s shoulder. “You didn’t let him die,” Velkan said. “It was my fault.” It was his fault for failing his Master.

"The choice was mine," Van Helsing replied, leaning toward the other man slightly. "I didn't even hesitate. He would have found a way to kill you or... or turn you into something evil. I couldn't allow that to happen."

Velkan crouched down and started to nuzzle the back of Van Helsing’s neck. It wasn’t meant to be sexual, but rather for comfort. “You can take your rage out on me.”

"No," Van Helsing said, shuddering at the thought. "I have done enough damage. I will do no more. Will you... go with me... to... claim his body?" Van Helsing could barely force himself to say the words. He could imagine the state Carl's body would be in but he couldn't leave him there. He deserved to be laid to rest on holy ground.

“Yes, Gabriel,” Velkan whispered into Van Helsing’s ear and wrapped his arms around the shaking man.

A few hours later they set out. They took the horses this time, with Velkan riding Carl's mount. He had offered to ride with Van Helsing but the man had said Carl wouldn't want them to waste the horse. They moved slowly, taking their time. Neither man was in any hurry to finish their gruesome task.

When they reached the cave, Van Helsing checked the perimeter before he let Velkan near the opening. “Stay behind me, Velkan,” he commanded the younger man.

Velkan nodded and drew out his sword just in case. He couldn't sense any beings inside the cave, but he wasn't taking any chances. The sooner they recovered the friar's body and were away from here, the better, in his opinion.

They found Carl’s huddled, naked form in the back of the cave. His body was covered in livid bite and claw marks, but also packed with dirt and blood. It was a pitiful sight and Velkan knew the friar was lucky his body was even in one piece for burial.

Van Helsing approached slowly. His hands shook as he reached out to touch his friend's corpse. Carl was yet another innocent he had failed to protect. "I'm sorry, my friend," he whispered as he touched Carl's shoulder.

Carl gave a whimper and tried to pull away from the touch, but his body was too weak. He managed to turn his head toward whatever had touched him and prayed it would understand. "Please... kill me..."

“You live…” Van Helsing murmured in almost a prayer. It was both a blessing and a second chance to redeem himself.

"V-V-Van Hel-sing?" Carl stammered, blinking his eyes to try and clear the blood from them.

“I’m here,” Van Helsing told him. He was already checking Carl’s body for broken bones. There was no point in apologizing to Carl now when his life was still in danger. Simple words could not explain his deep sorrow and guilt.

"Please... I beg you... kill me," Carl gasped. The fiend had said he and his creatures would return. Carl knew his mind would break if he was forced to endure such torment again. Death was his only escape and now that Van Helsing was here, he had a chance.

“I cannot…” Van Helsing told him. “I’ll keep you safe, but I cannot kill you. I will… I will see that you are healed.”

"Please... you don't what he's done... I am foul... please..." Carl pleaded until his voice finally failed him. He knew he could not fight Van Helsing on this. If the man refused to grant him his death then he would endure it. Somehow.

“Do you want me to kill him, Gabriel?” Velkan asked quietly. If his Master couldn’t bear the responsibility of ending the friar’s misery, then he would bare that sin.

"No!" Van Helsing shouted, pulling Carl into his arms. "Please, Velkan. We can fix this. I can't... please... help me." He couldn't let Carl die. Not now, even though the man had begged for it. Van Helsing knew that kind of despair. He'd experienced it himself before, but he could not allow Carl to succumb to it. He had to find a way to make this right again.

Velkan nodded. His Master wanted the friar to live and so he would. “I know how to tend to him,” Velkan said. “We’ll need to get him some place warm.”

"Do you know this area?" Van Helsing asked. He let go of Carl long enough to slip off his coat and wrap it around the naked man. He then gently lifted him into his arms and stood.

“Yes,” Velkan answered. “There’s an abandoned monastery not far from here. It’s holy ground.”

"Good," Van Helsing replied. He carried Carl out to the horses and swung them both up onto his mount. He cradled Carl in his arms as if he were a child and silently prayed that they weren't already too late. "Get us there, Velkan."

Velkan glanced over once at how Van Helsing carried Carl in his arms before he launched onto the other horse alone. The vampire had called them both Van Helsing’s catamites, but Gabriel loved the friar. He might be Gabriel’s catamite, but he would never have the man’s love.

"I can feel your pain from here," Van Helsing said, taking his attention away from Carl just long enough to speak to Velkan. "If you remember nothing else, remember that I chose you."

“Yes, Gabriel,” Velkan mumbled before kicking his horse into a full gallop.

Van Helsing followed, deciding to say nothing else for the time being. Carl needed him right now. He would have to reassure Velkan later.

*

“You’ll have to give him some of this tea every half an hour,” Velkan told Van Helsing as he walked into the room. “It will keep his fever down.”

Velkan had been keeping his distance from Van Helsing and Carl, only venturing near when he tended the friar’s wounds. He preferred to tell Van Helsing what to do.

Van Helsing took the tea and set it down. Carl was sleeping for the moment but he would awaken again soon enough. He heard Velkan turn to leave and whispered softly, "Are you so disgusted with me that you can not bear to be in the same room with me now?"

“No,” Velkan said, looking down and knowing he had failed Gabriel yet again. Every time he misinterpreted what Gabriel wanted, he failed him. “I thought you wanted to spend time with the friar.”

"I do," Van Helsing replied. "But I need you... your strength and support are all I have left to guide me."

“I am yours, Gabriel,” Velkan said and dropped to one knee in front of his Master.

Van Helsing pulled Velkan into his arms and clung to him tightly. He was almost afraid something would come and snatch the other man away from him if he let go. He couldn't bare to look on Velkan's body as he was forced to look on Carl's now.

“No one can take me from you,” Velkan whispered to Van Helsing. “I believe now I was born to serve you.”

Van Helsing only tightened his grip at Velkan's words. He hated being trapped here in this ruined church, waiting for Carl to live or die. He knew, from the amount of damage he had seen, that Carl would very likely die. And if he did, the friar's blood would be on his hands.

“It wasn’t your fault,” Velkan told him. His was petting Van Helsing’s hair like a small child. “I’ll make it better, Gabriel. I promise.”

"Who else could be blamed?" Van Helsing replied. "You know what that fiend did to him. Assuming he lives through this nightmare at all, how can he ever forgive me for leaving him to that?" He did not usually fall prey to self-pity, but seeing one he had sworn to protect so grievously injured was haunting him.

“You can start by blaming the vampire and his monsters,” Velkan insisted. “And you can blame me for failing you.”

"You, beloved, have not failed me once in all of this," Van Helsing said softly, pulling his eyes away from Carl to regard his lover.

“Haven’t I?” Velkan asked. He laid his hand over Van Helsing’s heart. “Your pain is my failure. You valued the friar and I let my jealousy interfere with your greater good.”

"No," Van Helsing replied. "You offered to go back to the camp. It was I that chose to stay in the woods with you and leave Carl unprotected. You do know now that you have nothing... nothing to be jealous of, don't you?"

“Only of his goodness,” Velkan said.

"Then we have that in common as well. I, too, envy his goodness... his gentleness," Van Helsing said. "The world will be a darker place without his light."

“Then let me carry the burden of healing him,” Velkan said, kissing Van Helsing’s forehead before pulling away. “He must drink the tea I brewed for him.”

"Alright," Van Helsing said. "He would probably prefer your company to mine anyway."

“You could hunt,” Velkan suggested. Maybe Van Helsing would be able to work off some of his rage and sorrow through blood shed. “I could use the meat in a broth for the friar.”

"Very well. I won't be far. If you need me, you have only to call." That said, he kissed Velkan softly on the lips and stood. He picked up the crossbow Carl had made for him and headed toward the woods. Maybe a bit of hunting would help to take his mind off things.

“He always blames himself…” Velkan heard Carl croak out in a hoarse whisper.

"How long have you been awake, friar?" Velkan asked, reaching for the tea he wanted Carl to drink.

“Long enough,” Carl answered. He sipped at the tea that Velkan had to pour slowly into this mouth.

"Do you wish me to call him?" Velkan asked. He doubted if the other man did, since he had waited until Van Helsing was gone to speak.

“No, he has a new confessor now.” Carl coughed lightly.

Velkan looked away, feeling shamed by Carl's words. "I did not mean to take your place," he said softly. "And I do not think I have. He grieves for you so that I fear for his life should you not recover."

“I shall recover,” Carl shook his head. “I am not so lucky as to embrace death.”

"Please, friar, do not say such things," Velkan pleaded. He had seen how much similar words had torn Gabriel's heart to shreds back in the cave. If he heard them again now, Velkan feared he might go mad from the guilt. "We shall help you. *I* shall help you in any way I can. But I beg of you, do not leave him."

“Don’t worry, I won’t say such things in front of your Master.” Carl could see the panicked look on Velkan’s face when even the vague concept of Van Helsing’s pain was explored.

"Thank you," Velkan said, visibly relieved. "Frair... may I ask something of you?"

“Yes.” It looked like Velkan had gained a new confessor as well.

"May I make confession?" Velkan asked softly. He wasn't sure if he expected the young friar to refuse him or not. His actions toward the man would certainly warrant it. Velkan prayed that wasn't the case as he truly wanted to make things right between them.

“I’m not a priest,” Carl told him. “But I’m a good listener.”

"Van Helsing was right. You do have the kindest heart in all the world. I am shamed by my earlier actions. I treated you poorly and you sought only to help me. I... I do not know what I am doing. I do what I think will please him, yet it is the opposite he yearns for. I would give anything to take your place, friar. Anything to not see the pain in his eyes when he looks on you and remembers."

“You cannot change the past,” Carl offered. He reached out with a shaky hand and patted Velkan’s hand softly. “Is it so truly in your nature to please him completely now?”

"Yes," Velkan replied without hesitation. "I... I ache to please him. In any way. I wish only to be his possession... simply... simply his. There is nothing I would deny him. I suppose such behaviour must disgust you."

“It only worries me for your sake,” Carl murmured. “You have never lived your life for simply the joy of living.”

"My joy comes from him," Velkan said. "I am happier now than I have ever been. I... I have purpose other than simply the killing of some foul beast." Velkan paused for a moment, then decided to broach the subject of the friar and Van Helsing. "He thinks you will never forgive him, you know. He thinks that no matter what happens, he has turned your friendship into hatred."

Carl had to look away from Velkan. “I am glad he has you now,” he told the young man. “Because I am not sure if I can ever forgive him.”

Van Helsing heard Velkan gasp at Carl's words, but it was as if the sound was far away. He had walked back into the church as Velkan had spoken of forgiveness. What tiny bit of hope he'd had crumbled to dust inside him and he dropped the rabbits he had brought, staggering back out of the doorway as if trying to escape.

Velkan felt the stab of pain as if it was his own and it literally was. As much as Gabriel’s happiness was his happiness, he felt Van Helsing’s pain more greatly than his own. Velkan abandoned Carl to immediately go to Van Helsing. “He didn’t mean it,” Velkan hissed desperately to the hunter.

"Carl does not say things lightly, especially things like that," Van Helsing said, refusing to meet Velkan's eyes. "He meant it. I expected no less, really. I only hoped..."

“The friar was upset,” Velkan said. “No one can help but love you, Gabriel.” Velkan turned back to look at Carl. “Tell him you didn’t mean it.”

"No," Van Helsing said, still refusing to look up. "You have never lied to me in all our years together. I beg you, do not do so now."

“Gabriel, tell me what to do,” Velkan begged. “Tell me what I can do to make it better.”

"Just... do not forsake me," Van Helsing replied sadly. "You are the only friend I have left in the world now." Suddenly, Van Helsing bent down and retrieved the rabbits he had dropped. "I'll get these ready then you can make him some broth like you said."

Velkan watched Van Helsing walk away, the words slipping from his lips, “I am damned.”

"I did not mean for him to hear that," Carl said once Van Helsing had gone. "I would never hurt him so callously, no matter what I might feel."

“It doesn’t matter,” Velkan said, still starring down the hallway. “I have failed him yet again. I should have protected him from those words…”

"No matter how much you desire to, you can not protect him from everything," Carl told him. "It warms my heart that you wish to, as I'm sure it does his, but it is simply impossible. Know that he loves you, Velkan. Know that... he chose you."

“He chose wrong,” Velkan said. His voice wasn’t low, but rather tinged with defeated acceptance.

*

As night fell, Velkan tried again and again to get close to Van Helsing. Every time he tried, the man pushed him away. Carl had told him to simply be patient, that Van Helsing was still dealing with a lot of things, but it was impossible for Velkan to simply sit by and watch his Master suffer alone.

There had been lovers before Van Helsing. Other gypsy boys who didn’t mind a quick tumble, but feared the family curse and his sister too much to actually fall in love with him. He was desperate to comfort Gabriel and the only thing that came to mind was sex. He checked on Carl to make sure he was settled and asleep, before he went to his Master’s bedding. Van Helsing’s was out patrolling the perimeter to make sure nothing would bother them, giving him a few moments alone.

He shed his clothes quickly, then sat down on the ground. He bound his ankles first, leaving his legs spread wide in invitation. Next, he lay down and stretched his arms over his head. He bound his hands together, then to the stake he'd driven into the ground. He could escape in but a moment, if need be, but it would at least give the illusion of being bound.

Van Helsing’s heavy step made Velkan’s heart beat faster. “What are you doing?” he demanded when he saw Velkan splayed out for him.

"Please, Master," Velkan pleaded, his voice shaking. "I am yours. Use me."

“Master?” Van Helsing repeated back. Velkan had never said that word out loud before. “Do you think so little of yourself that you view a murderer as your Master?”

"You are my Master. No matter what you call yourself, that will not change," Velkan told him stubbornly.

Van Helsing moved in a flash and soon was sitting across Velkan’s chest. “You don’t know what you’re playing at, little boy.”

Velkan couldn't help but arch up against Van Helsing. He knew his behaviour bordered on whorish but he couldn't help himself. "Please, Master," he begged, gripping the rope about his hands tightly.

Van Helsing couldn’t but accept how the feeling of Velkan underneath him was exciting and yet his cock lay lax against his thigh. He was the one responsible for taking this proud young man and reducing him to this. “I am not your Master,” Van Helsing said in a heavy voice. “You do not belong to me.”

Velkan closed his eyes as pain like he'd never known before washed over him. "As you wish," he managed to get out and began to tremble beneath Van Helsing.

Van Helsing laid his hand flat on Velkan’s chest, as he had not moved from his perch. “You will thank me later.”

Velkan opened his eyes and looked up at Van Helsing, his vision blurred by the tears he refused to let fall. "May I... may I at least... give you pleasure?" he asked pitifully, shame welling up inside him at the knowledge that he was begging a man that did not want him.

“Velkan…” Van Helsing sighed and caressed the young man’s face slowly with his fingers. “That is not your purpose on this earth.”

"Then what purpose is there for me?" Velkan asked. "I have no family, no home, no people. I was cast out of heaven to walk by your side, yet you refuse me. I do not blame you for that. I do not deserve one such as you. But at least... let me try to please you."

Van Helsing didn’t have the fight left in him to resist Velkan anymore. The young man’s eyes mad him feel worse than a murderer. “You can try…”

Velkan lifted his head, straining forward to reach Van Helsing's groin. Van Helsing moved forward slightly and pulled his lax penis from his leggings. Velkan pulled the flesh into his mouth and began to suckle, using what he knew of Van Helsing to try to arouse the other man.

Van Helsing let Velkan continue to suck, but he remained soft, despite the efforts. After a few minutes, Van Helsing caressed Velkan’s cheek. “It’s not working, lupul.”

Velkan released him, letting his head drop to the ground with a thud. He turned his face away in shame, understanding now why Van Helsing was casting him aside. "I'll leave," he said softly, squeezing his eyes shut to hold the tears at bay. "As soon as the friar's well again."

Van Helsing moved off of Velkan and tucked himself away. “You’re not going anywhere.”

"Yes, Gabriel," Velkan replied, his heart clenching as the words slipped out before he could stop them. He quickly worked his hands free of the knots then sat up and began freeing his ankles. He felt horribly exposed like this now.

“You must remember to be your own man,” Van Helsing told Velkan. His heart was heavy and his soul ached.

Once free, Velkan scrambled into his clothes as quickly as possible. "Call me when the rabbits are ready. I'll be tending the friar."

“You do that,” Van Helsing answered with his back to his lover.

*

As the night wore on, Van Helsing kept watch. He let Velkan tend to Carl but he stayed close, especially at night. Since their earlier encounter, Velkan had not spoken to him. The distance between them only added to his pain and he found himself wanting to howl into the night. He was so lost in thought that he almost missed the soft whimper that escaped from Carl's lips. In an instant he was beside the other man, laying a cautious hand on him to rouse him from whatever nightmare tormented him.

“Do not touch me, monster!” Carl cried out, as he bolted up in his bedding. He hands went to block his neck from imaginary attacks.

Van Helsing jerked back as if slapped. "I'm sorry," he whispered brokenly. "I only meant to wake you. I shall fetch Velkan."

Carl’s hand reached out and latched onto Van Helsing’s wrist. “I’m s-sorry. I thought you were them!”

Van Helsing froze, surprised that Carl was touching him. "Were you dreaming?" Van Helsing finally asked.

“Nightmares… torments,” Carl corrected him. “The evil haunts me…”

"What can I do?" Van Helsing implored. "What can I do to ease your pain? I would... I would give my very soul if it would bring you peace again."

“You could forgive me for what I said,” Carl started. He had let Van Helsing’s wrist go and was wringing his hands together.

"It was only the truth," Van Helsing replied. "I will not insult you by asking for your forgiveness. I do not deserve it. But I would give anything to be able to help you."

“Then give me your continued friendship,” Carl said.

Van Helsing stared at him, his mouth opening to speak then closing again as he realized he didn't know what to say. "You have always had my friendship," he finally managed.

“Then you will still take my advice?” Carl asked. He was still having trouble looking Van Helsing in the eye, but his gaze had settled on Velkan’s still form.

"I would gladly take any advice you chose to give me," Van Helsing replied, then shook his head. "No. That isn't right. I would cherish your advice, but I will *do* whatever you tell me. If you wish me to throw myself from the tallest part of this church, I would do so."

“I do not want my suffering to be in vain,” Carl said softly. “I endured knowing that you loved the boy…”

Van Helsing blanched and looked away, his eyes landing on Velkan. "I do, but he deserves more than the monster I have become. I would not see him bound to one such as me."

“It is not your choice,” Carl reminded. “He fell asleep with tears on his cheeks.”

"How can you condone this?" Van Helsing asked, looking back at Carl. "I am a... a fiend. It's because of me that beast got his hands on you. You should be trying to get the boy as far from me as humanly possible before the same thing happens to him."

“We both know he would only come back to you.” Even in his hour of pain, he couldn’t help but think of another’s suffering.

"You are a good man," Van Helsing told him, awed once more by Carl's selfless nature. "I wish... " He lowered his head, tears filling his eyes and spilling down his cheeks. He had told Carl he would not ask for his forgiveness and he meant it.

“There are many things we wish for and only a few I can give you,” Carl had to stop and take a deep breath. “One of those is my trust.”

"No," Van Helsing shook his head. "Never do that again. Never put your trust in me. Trusting me... will only cause you pain."

“Gabriel, you do not speak for me,” Carl said more forcefully than he had ever before.

"I am sorry," Van Helsing said quickly, bowing his head submissively.

Carl set his hand gently on Van Helsing’s head. “I speak for myself and I tell you my hate lies with the thing that put us all through this ordeal.”

"I would have taken your place. I would gladly have endured all he did to you, to save you from that pain. I would still..."

“And that is why you are my friend,” Carl told him. “As I would do the same for you.”

"You already have." Something inside Van Helsing seemed to snap then and he began to weep. He clutched at Carl's hand, afraid if he let go he would awaken to find this all just a dream. "I'm sorry. I'm so sorry," he said again and again as the sound of his sobs echoed in the stonewalls of the church.

Carl held Van Helsing as he wept and shed his own tears. “I want you to promise me one thing,” Carl whispered to Gabriel.

"Anything," Van Helsing said through his tears.

“I want you to be a good Master to Velkan,” Carl told him.

"Very well," Van Helsing replied. "In truth, I did not know how I was going to turn him away if he came to me again. I crave his closeness, even if my body refuses to cooperate."

“Is that why he weeps?” Carl demanded. He understood what humiliation like that could do to a man.

"Yes," Van Helsing replied bitterly. "Yet another innocent I've hurt in all this."

“I doubt he would like it if you called him an innocent,” Carl snorted, some of his old humour returning.

"But he is," Van Helsing said. "You both are. At least to me."

“He loves you,” Carl reminded Van Helsing. “As do I, just in a different way.”

A sob tore it's way free from Van Helsing at Carl's words. Any composure he had gained was lost and he began to weep again. He had to bite his lip to keep from begging Carl to forgive him. Instead, he merely took the friar's hand and held it gently between his own.

“Gabriel…” Velkan called out in the darkness. He had awoken from his troubled sleep when he sensed Van Helsing’s distress.

Van Helsing squeezed Carl's hand lightly then turned toward Velkan. He moved toward him slowly, remembering the pain he'd caused earlier. "I am here," he said, his voice rough.

“Something’s wrong,” Velkan said in a sleep heavy voice.

"Many things are wrong," Van Helsing said as he settled himself beside the younger man. "But I intend to make them right again."

In his sleepy state, Velkan didn’t remember that he had promised himself not to touch Van Helsing anymore. Velkan started to touch Van Helsing’s chest, his hands running over the leather covered chest. “Are you hurt?”

"Not physically so, though I almost wish I was. I'm sorry about earlier." He whispered the last, afraid to say the words too loud and shatter the tiny bit of peace he found in Velkan's embrace.

“It was my fault,” Velkan answered, nuzzling softly against Van Helsing’s neck. “I was not pleasing enough.”

"No, lupul, neither of us was really at fault. Too much had happened. My body just wouldn't cooperate." Van Helsing shuddered when Velkan suckled at his neck, his body now more than willing to make up for its earlier performance.

“Then I shouldn’t have acted like a whore when you didn’t want me,” Velkan whispered against Van Helsing’s neck.

Van Helsing paused for a moment then considered Carl's words. He wanted him to be a good Master to the boy. He could do that. He could give Velkan what he so desperately wanted. "Maybe I like it when you play the whore," he whispered silkily. "All spread out for me, willing to let me have any part of you I wanted."

Velkan’s breath hitched instantly when he heard the words. “Just for you,” Velkan hissed.

"That, beloved, I would never doubt." Van Helsing pulled him into a hard kiss, wanting to show him with actions as well as words that he was truly sorry.

*

“About last night, friar…” Velkan started and couldn’t believe he was blushing. He hadn’t blushed since he was a child.

"What about it?" Carl asked, smiling in a way he was told was most reassuring.

“You might have heard a few noises,” Velkan said uncomfortably. Van Helsing said the friar was more lecherous than he looked, but Velkan didn’t believe it.

"I admit, I did hear a few things," Carl said, unable to resist. "They sent me to sleep with a smile on my face."

Velkan couldn’t help the surge of jealously that flared in him and he fought to push it aside. “He wants me,” Velkan said a little sulkily, looking away from Carl.

"A blind man could see that," Carl said. "I did not mean that the way you took it. I was merely pleased that two people I care for were able to give each other joy. I might love him, Velkan, but I do not desire him."

“How could you not?” Velkan asked in genuine astonishment. “He is…”

"He is my friend," Carl finished for him. "Nothing more. Besides, even if I was so inclined, he only has eyes for you in that regard."

“Have there been any others?” Velkan asked, trying to make it sound casual.

"Not that I know of," Carl replied. "Oh, there's been the occasional woman or two, but only for a single night and only when the despair was too great to ignore. It's hard for him to let anyone that close to him."

“I might be able to accept that you are brain damaged and do not see his beauty,” Velkan said with a smile. He was trying to make a joke and extend his friendship toward the friar.

"Oh, you won't have any trouble getting people to agree with you there," Carl laughed softly then turned serious again. "Velkan, I never got a chance to thank you for what you did for me."

Velkan’s brow turned into a confused scowl. “What would you possibly have to thank me for?”

"You came back for me," Carl replied. "And... you offered to end my pain when Van Helsing couldn't. I thank you for that, even if he didn't let you do it."

“I would offer the same to any brother-at-arms,” Velkan insisted.

"I know," Carl said patting his arm. "You have a good heart and you don't like to see any creature suffer. You are a good man, Velkan."

Velkan let his head hung and confessed, “I have not been a man since that thing bit me.”

"Oh, Velkan. You have never stopped being a man. Even when Dracula held you in his power, you still fought him. You are a good man."

“I do not know what I am,” Velkan said. “But I am not the man I once was.”

"Perhaps not," Carl conceded. "But I still say you are a good man. You have stood by Van Helsing when he needed you most. And you've stood by me as well. He didn't chose wrong, Velkan. He didn't."

“Please, don’t…” Velkan started to say, but then his head turned to the doorway. There was no one there, but a small smile crossed his lips. “He’s back from the hunt.”

"Go to him," Carl said. "I'm going to take a nap for a bit. Perhaps tonight we can finish this conversation."

Velkan carefully fussed with the blanket around Carl’s waist, but his eyes were locked on the doorway. He stood up and then fussed with the ill-fitting clothing he was wearing. After Van Helsing had torn the clothing he had buried in from his body, he had been forced to wear a combination of Carl’s and Van Helsing’s spare clothing.

“It is good it is darkening out, so he cannot see me,” Velkan muttered. As a prince of his people and also due to the short lifespan of his family, he had been spoiled most of his life.

"He would find you beautiful in rags, child," Carl admonished gently. "Go to him. He longs for you."

“I’m not a child,” Velkan said, already tearing out of the room like an eager puppy.

*

Van Helsing was surprised when Velkan hurried out of the church toward him. At first, he thought something must be wrong, but the smile on Velkan's face told him just the opposite were true. "I see someone's happy," he said as he tossed the rabbits aside.

Velkan launched himself at Gabriel and laughed out loud when he was spun around. “You’re back, why wouldn’t I be?” Velkan challenged.

"I missed you too, lupul," Van Helsing grinned. He pulled Velkan in close and kissed him, sliding his tongue into the other man's mouth. He tasted him slowly, enjoying the soft moans that escaped from Velkan as he did so. "I have plans for you tonight."

Velkan groaned again, but reached out and mischievously took Van Helsing’s trademark hat and put it in his own head. His old personality was starting to reassert itself. “And what plans would that be, mighty hunter?”

"I want to see you all laid out for me again," Van Helsing purred. "Your legs spread wide and staked out. Your hands bound above your head. All helpless before me and begging for my touch."

“Yes, Gabriel,” Velkan moaned happily. The image itself was enough to harden him.

"I want to see you bent over that log," Van Helsing continued, motioning to the fallen log near the entrance to the ruins. "I want to see you tied there and begging to be fucked."

“Yes, Master.” Velkan would do anything Van Helsing asked of him right now. He was so eager to please that he started to undo the buttons of his tunic.

"After dinner, pet," Van Helsing said. "But if you really want to get naked now you can. I'm sure Carl wouldn't mind the view."

“It’s not like the clothing does anything for me,” Velkan grumbled. It hung loose on his form and he wanted to wear something that displayed what he had for Van Helsing.

"We'll get you new ones soon, I promise. But since you don't care for these, take them off for me. I want to look at you while I prepare supper."

“Gabriel… the friar…” Velkan wasn’t protesting, but he didn’t want to embarrass Carl.

"The friar has seen a man naked before," Van Helsing replied. "I dare say he will enjoy the view. He knows how to appreciate a beautiful form a much as I do."

Velkan shrugged, accepting Van Helsing’s decision in the matter. “I want to keep the hat for a while,” Velkan said, starting to quickly strip. The hat smelt of Gabriel.

"Consider it yours," Van Helsing replied. His throat went dry as he watched Velkan stripping for him. He knew he could command anything and Velkan would do it. It was heady knowledge and Van Helsing swore not to abuse it.

“It’s cold,” Velkan complained when he had finished stripping. While he had grown up in the Transylvanian mountains and he was used to the chill, he had an alterative motive in mind.

"Go stay with Carl while I get supper on," Van Helsing told him, wanting him both out of the cold and with Carl. "I'll join you shortly."

“Yes, Gabriel,” Velkan said and took off with his folded clothing in his arms and Van Helsing’s hat on his head.

Carl had watched the two men with growing interest. When Velkan began to disrobe in full view of him, Carl knew Van Helsing was up to something. From the confident, if slightly embarrassed, way Velkan approached him was any indication, he was finally doing something right. "Everything okay?" Carl asked as Velkan drew near.

“No, nothing is wrong,” Velkan said as he crouched close to the fire as he dared naked. “Haven’t you ever seen a naked man before?”

"Yes, several times, in fact," Carl smiled. "I just wondered why you chose to be naked now. Not that I mind." He couldn't help but add the last bit, knowing it would both embarrass and please the young man.

“Gabriel wanted me naked,” Velkan told him. That was all the justification he needed.

"Indeed," Carl replied, his grin spreading. It looked as if Gabriel had taken his words to heart.

“He’s skinning the rabbits,” Velkan said. He was trying to act as if it was perfectly normal to walk around naked in the ruins of church.

"You don't have to be self-conscious around me, Velkan," Carl said, trying to put him at ease. "As you said, I've seen naked men before. It's kind of hard not to in an abbey, you know."

“That doesn’t count,” Velkan snorted. “Priests aren’t real men.”

"Really. Why's that?" Carl asked.

“Well…” Velkan said. “I heard that when you become a priest… they geld you.” Velkan had grown up among the gypsies that had mistrust for any institution, even the Church.

"I see," Carl replied. "Well, I hate to tell you this, but you're quite mistaken. Believe me, all of my parts are in working order. Or at least they were. Anyway, if you thought me a eunuch, why did you consider me such a threat to you?"

“You’re not a priest,” Velkan said reasonably. “You’re a friar. And he… loves you.”

"Ahhh," Carl replied. He reached out and took Velkan's hand. "He may love me, but not like he loves you. There is no desire between us, only the love of brothers."

Carl looked up when he heard a low growl from the doorway. Van Helsing’s eyes were locked on where Carl was touching Velkan and he was growling very much like he had when he was a werewolf.

"Hello, Gabriel," Carl said, refusing to pull his hand away. "Velkan and I were just talking about you."

“You’re touching him,” Van Helsing growled again.

"Why yes, it looks like I am. Is there a problem?" Carl replied, his voice even and the soft smile never leaving his face. No matter what posturing the man might attempt, this was Van Helsing and Carl had no fear of *him*.

“Yes,” Van Helsing huffed and tossed the skinned rabbits just in front Carl. “He’s mine.”

Carl looked at Van Helsing and shook his head. "Why does everyone seem to think I'm some great threat? Believe me, if I never have sexual relations again, I'll count myself lucky!" Carl hadn't meant to snap and he certainly hadn't meant to say *that*, however there was no way to take the words back now.

“You’re a threat because you’re easy to love,” Velkan provided quietly. “And… you may not want to count our opinions as… normal. I think the werewolf curse might have affected us.”

"Curse or not, you can consider me effectively... what was the word you used, Velkan... oh yes, gelded." Carl closed his eyes wearily, the sudden turn of the conversation bringing up things he'd been trying with all his might to forget.

“I didn’t mean it,” Velkan said quickly. He didn’t want to cause Carl any pain. When Carl took his hand away, Velkan was willing to risk his wrath by grabbing it again. “Any one else Gabriel looks at like that… I would have killed.”

"It is alright, Velkan," Carl said, his eyes still closed. "I do not blame you. It is the truth, nothing more. I think, all things considered, it would have been easier on me if he had simply cut them off."

“Would fucking me make you feel like a man?” Velkan asked. He knew Van Helsing would not be getting rid of Carl any time soon and maybe this would be a good way to keep the peace. He didn’t think he was good enough that Gabriel would want to keep him all to himself anyway.

Carl's eyes shot open and he swallowed thickly. "Don't ever say that to me again," he said, squeezing Velkan's hand tightly. He shuddered at the very thought of letting himself be touched that way.

“I disgust you…” Velkan said softly, lowering is head.

"No, Velkan, that isn't what I meant at all," Carl said, his voice softening. "*I* disgust me. I am... unclean... foul... I would not taint you with this. It has nothing to do with you. I don't think I could stand to have anyone touch me... like that."

The guilt welled in Van Helsing just as it had the day he had picked Carl up off of the ground in that cave. “If you will not accept him, then what about me?”

Carl shook his head miserably, tears filling his eyes. "The problem is with me. Did you not hear me, Gabriel? I am a foul thing. That... that... creature... he..." Carl couldn't bring himself to say it. He didn't need to, though. Van Helsing had tended his wounds. He knew what damage had been done and how.

“I’ll avenge you, brother,” Van Helsing his in a gravely voice. He would kill that monster who raped Carl, but for now he would try to give the friar back some of his pride. “For now, you may not be able to be touched, but you can watch.”

"If... if that is your wish," Carl said shakily, grateful that Gabriel had let the subject drop for now. The memories of that awful time were threatening to swamp him and he needed something, anything, to distract his mind once more.

“Velkan, come here,” Van Helsing commanded. The blood was pumping through his veins and he felt the need to possess Velkan.

Velkan gave Carl's hand a quick squeeze then he was hurrying toward his master. "Yes, Gabriel?" he said, head bowed submissively.

“We need to show Carl that it isn’t always about pain between men,” he told Velkan.

"You wish to take me in front of him?" Velkan asked, a bit apprehensive. He remembered the last time they'd had sex with Carl near. He had ended up trying to club Gabriel with a branch.

Van Helsing reached out and grabbed Velkan’s chin. “Yes, I want that. Can you control yourself, lupul?”

"I am yours," Velkan simply replied. "Do with me as you will, Master."

“I want you to use your beautiful mouth,” Van Helsing said loud enough for Carl to hear.

Carl watched avidly as Velkan slid to his knees in front of Gabriel. He knew he should turn away and give them their privacy but Van Helsing wanted him to watch. In a purely analytical sense, Velkan was a stunning young man and the sight of him submitting so gracefully was highly erotic. Carl thought it a shame they were wasting such a display on him.

“That’s it, Velkan,” Van Helsing praised, petting Velkan’s hair. Velkan was starting to work the leather lacing of his pants undone.

Velkan quickly undid Gabriel's pants and pushed them down, freeing his erection. He could feel his master's hand in his hair and it made him moan softly as he took the head of his cock into his mouth. The taste of Gabriel exploded across his tongue and he was soon sucking hungrily on the hard shaft, wanting to taste as much of it as he could.

“I have you to thank for him, Carl,” Van Helsing told the friar. “God might have brought him back, you made me see that I love him. Beautiful, isn’t he?”

"He's magnificent," Carl replied a bit breathlessly. He might not want to be touched but he wasn't completely immune. He had always been a very visual man and watching Velkan *servicing* Van Helsing was intensely erotic.

Van Helsing felt Velkan suck harder when he heard the comment. He looked down to make sure Velkan was hard and not just doing this because he was told to. Not only was Velkan hard, but his erection almost looked painful.

"Tell him to touch himself," Carl said when he followed Van Helsing's eyes down to Velkan's straining groin. Even though his body didn't stir at the display, his mind reeled from it and he wanted to take part, if only like this.

“You heard him, Velkan,” Van Helsing moaned softly. “Touch yourself, but don’t you dare cum.”

Velkan glanced toward Carl as he reached down to take his cock in hand. He moaned around Van Helsing's cock as he started to stroke. Knowing that the friar was not only watching them, but participating at least peripherally, was turning him on even more.

Van Helsing let Velkan continue until he was too close the edge and then growled out the command, “Enough.”

Reluctantly, Velkan stopped and pulled back, letting his lover's cock slide from his mouth. It glistened wetly and he shivered, thinking about where it was going next. He turned his head to look fully at Carl, wanting him to see the desire in his eyes and understand that everything didn't have to be about pain.

“Tell him what you want,” Van Helsing told Velkan. The guilt of what he was and what he had done was still there, but adding to it, there was also a glimmer of hope. Hope that he could keep his friend and lover by his side, seeing that they were both healed in all ways.

"I want you to take me," Velkan said, his eyes never leaving Carl's. "I want to feel you inside me, making me whole again. Please, Master..."

“Get down on all fours,” Van Helsing demanded. There was just something about that position that was so primal it attracted parts of him he would have rather kept hidden.

Velkan complied immediately, making sure to position himself so Carl could see them both clearly. He longed to move closer, to be able to reach out and take the friar's hand while his Master took his pleasure. He thought then that Carl might begin to understand, though he had no illusions about the long and painful recovery ahead.

Van Helsing kept Velkan’s shirt, pants and boots on, but loosened the ties of his leather pants around his cock as he kneeled behind Velkan. There was no time to get the oil he now kept in his pack, or he would risk breaking the spell hanging all over them.

Instead, he decided to simply use what he had on hand... or rather in mouth. Spreading Velkan's cheeks apart, he bent his head down and ran his tongue between them softly. He heard Velkan cry out and lunge forward, but he grabbed his hips and pulled him back, then stroked his tongue over him again.

Velkan couldn’t quite comprehend what Van Helsing was doing with his tongue. The idea had never crossed his mind, but then again, he had never walked the earth as long his lover. It only made him wonder what else Van Helsing could teach him.

"What... what is he doing to you?" Carl asked, his throat suddenly dry. He could see Velkan clearly but couldn't tell what Van Helsing was doing to make him moan and shake so.

“He’s…” Velkan had to stop to formulate the works. “Licking me… there. Driving his tongue in and out.”

Carl could hardly imagine such a thing, though he didn't put it past Van Helsing at all. The only experience he'd had in that area had been painful and humiliating. He simply could not imagine anything feeling good enough to make a man act as Velkan was. "How... how does it feel?"

“Like he owns even more than my soul… my whole body,” Velkan groaned out.

"You are so beautiful in your passion, Velkan," Carl told him. "I think you might be the most beautiful man I have ever known."

Van Helsing pulled away and positioned himself over Velkan’s back. “He’s right, lupul. You’re beautiful. Reborn for me…”

"Please, Master... please... I burn for you," Velkan cried out. His lover's tongue had set him on fire and he was desperate to feel Van Helsing inside him.

Van Helsing gave into Velkan’s pleas and quickly entered him, groaning loudly at the sweet friction. Velkan was perfection in every sense as he started to pump into him.

"Be easy, Gabriel," Carl said, wincing at the quick penetration. Memories of that very act tried to come back, but he forced them away, focusing on the look of pleasure on Velkan's face.

“No… please…” Velkan begged, afraid that Carl’s warning would stop Van Helsing.

"Shhh... I won't stop," Van Helsing promised him, though he did slow his pace. Instead of a harsh, fast coupling, he began to move in and out slowly, savouring the feel of Velkan's body gripping him tightly.

“Gabriel…” Velkan couldn’t believe that he could love Van Helsing anymore, but he did. Something about the way the man was touching spoke of the way things could only grow between them. Gabriel *could* love him and still keep Carl with them.

Carl felt his eyes grow moist as he watched the lovers. As he saw the gentle way Van Helsing touched him, he felt the last of his worry dissipate. It was clear to him now that Van Helsing would never do anything to harm the other man. That was enough for Carl.

Carl couldn’t tear his eyes away as he watched them climax either. It truly was an outrageously personal thing to watch, but he felt himself sinking deeper into their shared relationship.

When it was over, Van Helsing carefully pulled out of his lover then pulled him into his arms for a fierce kiss. "I love you, Velkan," he proclaimed loudly. He no longer cared about the hows and whys of it all. The only thing he cared about now was his family.

Velkan was so close to exhaustion that he only had enough sense to smile at his lover and reply, “Yes, Gabriel.”

Van Helsing laughed softly, understanding everything Velkan meant by those two simple words. "Come on, let's get you laid down before you fall over on me."

“Carl,” Velkan said. This wasn’t a question, but a request. It was also the first time he had called the friar by his first name.

Van Helsing paused, surprised. "Very well," he said, giving Velkan another, much softer, kiss. He lifted the younger man into his arms and walked the short distance to Carl, who lay watching them as if memorized. "He wants you."

“Sleep, friar,” Velkan murmured, knowing Carl was watching him. “Nothing else.” His eyes were already closed and he was burrowing into Van Helsing’s sleeping roll.

"Come here," Carl said, reaching his arm out to Velkan. He knew better than to try to pull Velkan closer so he waited for the other man to come to him.

Velkan cracked one eye open and put a face on that used to get him anything he wanted from his older sister and father. “But I’m already warm.” He knew Van Helsing hardly slept and would keep watch over them. He nuzzled his Master’s pillow for effect. “It smells of him.”

Van Helsing sighed and bent down to lift Velkan once more. He made sure to take the bedroll with him and placed him into Carl's open arm. "Sleep, both of you," he said with more than a touch of fondness in his voice.

Van Helsing had laid him down in Carl’s unsure arms. He flashed a triumphant smirk over his shoulder to his lover. “Next time you sleep with us…”

"Alright," Van Helsing replied, glancing at Carl to see his reaction. He might not mind Velkan so close to him, but he might not want that with him.

“If it’s only to sleep… then it would really be quite practical. It would be easier to maintain a constant temperature with shared body heat.”

Van Helsing knelt down beside Carl and laid a hand on his shoulder. "I would never hurt you, my friend. If you wish me close, then I will be."

Carl was lost for words until the awkward silence was interrupted by Velkan’s soft snore. The young man had managed to steal most of the bedroll and blanket in the few short moments they had been sharing them. “Is that normal?” he asked. His growing panic at sleeping with Van Helsing had been replaced at amusement towards Velkan.

"Quite," Van Helsing chuckled. "He'll steal every bit of blanket if you let him. Rest, Carl. I'll wake you both when dinner's ready."

“Just a little nap, then…” Carl agreed, watching Van Helsing as he wrapped his arms around Velkan’s sleeping form.

*

The days turned into weeks as Carl slowly recovered. Van Helsing had received a summons from Rome long ago and had replied that he would return when Carl was well enough to travel. Several more wires had come and he'd ignored them all. Now, however, Carl was finally well enough to begin the long journey. They would have to take it slowly at first, but at least they would be under way. As Velkan and Carl packed up the camp, Van Helsing sent a wire to the Cardinal, telling him they were returning.

It was Van Helsing who had gone into the nearest town to get supplies and found a wire from the cardinal waiting for him, leaving Velkan and Carl back in the camp. It was always spooky how the Church knew exactly where he was, but then again… it was the Church. They were always spooky.

“Tell me about this place,” Velkan asked Van Helsing while they packed up. “I have never left my homeland.”

"Not much to tell really," Van Helsing shrugged. "Lots of friars and priests and such running about. I'm never there for very long. Carl would be able to tell you more about it."

“It is a city of holy men?” Velkan couldn’t help but make a disgusted face. “But what of the other cities? So many people must be… unnerving.”

"A bit, but you get used to it," Van Helsing said. "I tend to stay by myself. The less people see me the less chance the constables will find out I'm there. Don't forget, Velkan, I'm a wanted man in most of Europe."

Velkan narrowed his eyes at Van Helsing. “Yes, I bet you are wanted… by bar maids, whores, soldiers and even those damn priests. I’ll have none of that, Gabriel.”

Van Helsing threw back his head and laughed. "You have no need to worry, lupul. They might want, but I have yet to let any of them have. You may belong to me, Velkan, but I belong to you equally as much."

“I would have thought the possessiveness would have lessened,” Carl sighed and made a tsking sound from where he was packing. “You two are hopeless.”

"Hah! No more so than you," Velkan replied, grinning. "Tell me truthfully, Carl. Would you not be possessive of one such as him, if he were yours?"

“I’ll not let any other quack inventor give him toys to play with,” Carl agreed.

"See?" Velkan said. "You are just as possessive as I am."

“So, I am to have no freedom?” Van Helsing mourned playfully. “I am your servant, gentlemen. Now may we start our journey?”

Carl and Velkan looked at each other, their eyes shining with mischief. "Very well," Carl sighed and mounted his horse. He winced slightly as he did so, his still-healing body unaccustomed to such movements. "You should be happy you have a horse, you know. Most servants have to walk."

“Walk?” Velkan sputtered. “He wouldn’t make me walk. He already promised me I could ride with him.”

"I wasn't talking about you, Velkan," Carl said. "I meant him. Perhaps we can pick up another horse in the next town we come to."

Van Helsing wrapped his arms around Velkan’s waist, saddened a little that a prince such as he could automatically assume himself a servant, even in jest. “He should ride with me, even if we get new steeds.”

"Hmmm... I suppose the pace won't tire them much, even with two riders. It's not like I'll be able to handle much more than a walking pace for several days still," Carl said. "You should have gone back to Rome when they summoned you. The Cardinal won't be pleased that you made him wait."

“He’s Van Helsing,” Velkan said before Gabriel could speak. “He answers to no one.”

"You are wrong there, my friend," Carl said, shaking his head. "I do not know what power the Cardinal holds over him, but Van Helsing must answer to him. But rest easy. The Cardinal needs him, so I doubt he'll do more than chastise him a bit."

As they started their journey to civilization, Carl’s words stuck with Velkan. Van Helsing was special, but he had to answer to someone. And this particular someone belong to the Church with all of their regulations and prejudices. He quickly decided that Gabriel should not be punished for his sins.

*

They stopped just short of reaching the Vatican. The closer they had gotten, the more apprehensive Van Helsing had become. He wasn't worried about himself so much as Carl and Velkan. Especially Velkan. He knew the view the church took on relationships such as theirs.

“Gabriel, you said when we were in Rome that I could get new clothing,” Velkan reminded his lover. He picked at the ill-fitting clothes he was still wearing that were hand me downs from Van Helsing and Carl. “I don’t want to meet this Cardinal dressed like a beggar.” More than a bit of Velkan’s pride was showing.

"Alright," Van Helsing agreed quickly, grasping at any excuse to delay their arrival. "There's a tailor at the edge of town. He should have something there you might like."

“He can be trusted?” Velkan asked. “I don’t want to have to kill him before my clothing is ready.”

"He can be trusted," Van Helsing replied. "I'm known here but I'm also protected by the church."

Several hours later, Velkan was alone with Van Helsing and Carl in a room modelling the latest fashion. Some of his day might have called him a “dandy” as he had been instantly drawn to the bright colours, instead of the dour and steadfast tweeds that were most popular. He was currently wearing black pants with a subtle pin stripe that fitted him in all the right places. It was topped by a crisp white shirt, bright red vest and matching tie.

“It’s not very practical,” Velkan commented as the ran his hands over the silk of the vest.

"I, for one, think it's perfect," Carl replied. "Not everything in life must be practical, you know."

“You sound like my…” Velkan started to say, but cut himself off quickly.

"I'm sorry," Carl said softly. He had not meant to remind the young man of all that he had lost.

“She used to spoil me,” Velkan said after a moment and then smiled softly. “So did my father. Hard to believe, I know.”

"You should be spoiled," Van Helsing said, walking up to his lover and wrapping his arms around him. "You deserve everything good in life and it pains me that I know I'll never be able to give that to you."

“You love me,” Velkan answered him. “What more could I want? As for money, I’ll never have to worry about that anymore. This damned church of yours holds the gold of my ancestors in its vaults.”

"Velkan, show a bit of respect, if you please," Carl said. "This damned church, as you put it, set your family free."

“No, that was Gabriel,” Velkan insisted stubbornly.

"Carl is right," Van Helsing said softly. "They sent me there. If not for the church, I never would have come. At the very least, I am grateful to them for leading me to you."

“I only wore the cross for its power to drive off vampires,” Velkan said. “I know God exists, but why do I need someone to tell me how to worship it?”

"Oh Velkan, I do not think you understand us," Carl said. "There are all manner of priests here, from all different religions. In essence, we all worship the same Being, no matter what name we might call Him. No one here will tell you how you should or should not worship."

Velkan could help himself. “So I am free to worship Gabriel?” he challenged.

"Just... do not say that where the Cardinal can hear you," Carl replied softly. He crossed himself and left the pair standing in the tailor shop. Once outside, he whispered a soft prayer for Velkan. "Forgive him, Father. He has been through so much."

*

As Van Helsing marched up the stairs of the Vatican, Velkan kept close to him, dressed in his new clothes and looking very much like a more colourful version of Van Helsing with the matching leather trench coat. Velkan had every intention of keeping quiet and letting his Master handle the situation, but he would stay by his side.

They found Carl already there and speaking with the Cardinal. "If not for Van Helsing and Prince Velkan, I fear this fiend would have killed me... or worse," Carl said as they walked up behind him. He had done what he could to explain the situation without going into detail about Velkan or how the vampire had captured him.

“We had feared the Valerious line lost,” Cardinal Jinette admitted, eyeing Velkan up with a fearsome gaze. “Why did you not remain in Transylvanian, son? You’ll have to marry soon enough to get an heir. It’s what your father would have wanted.”

"My father's wishes died with him, Cardinal," Velkan replied. "My place now is with Gabriel."

Jinette turned to Van Helsing with a raised eyebrow. He had yet to greet the returned hunter. “He calls you Gabriel?”

"It is my name," Van Helsing replied.

“I gather this trip was successful in retrieving some of you lost past then?” Jinette asked and then looked at Velkan. “And strays.”

Van Helsing felt Carl's hand on his arm gripping him tightly. "Not much more than my name really and the fact that I was the one that killed Dracula to begin with."

“We already knew that,” Jinette sighed. “Nothing else useful?”

"No," Van Helsing replied. "Nothing else except the fact that there are more vampires out there. The fiend that... that hurt Carl... was one."

“Again, this is a fact we already knew,” Jinette spoke and then turned his attention back to Velkan. “Valerious, if you have no intention of marrying as per you father’s wishes, have you considered joining the revered ranks of the Church? Your family could use the prayers.”

Velkan cast a quick glance at Carl then looked back at the Cardinal. "No, Cardinal. I chose to worship in my own way."

“You will of course have to speak to certain… parties before we can let you any further into our midst,” Jinette told him. Within the order, the men he had in mind were known simply as The Inquisitors.

"I think I speak for Prince Valerious, Cardinal," Carl spoke up. "All that he knows of such evils he has freely shared with us. He is no threat to the order."

For all of his bravado, Cardinal Jinette did trust Carl’s judgement. “Fine, I will arrange for him to stay outside of the Holy City.”

"He stays with me," Van Helsing told him. "We will not be separated."

“He does not serve or belong to the Order,” Jinette reminded Van Helsing. “Even if he is a friend of the Order, he will not be allowed to… fraternize with you.”

"Then we shall stay outside the city with him," Carl spoke up once more. "As Van Helsing said, we will not be separated."

“We?” Jinette repeated back slowly and his expression changed. The Church was not the most liberal member of the Order by far, but now was not the time or place to risk losing Van Helsing after he had just returned. He would bide his time and watch exactly how the last Valerious would affect his plans. “Very well, but none of you shall be allowed to leave the Holy City without my expressed permission. Understood?”

Carl nodded, knowing they had only won the initial skirmish. The true battle had yet to be fought. He, as a lowly friar, could only push so far. Though the church valued his inventions, they had other inventors they could easily replace him with.

*

It was the morning and Velkan was not only tired, but moody. He hadn’t been able to sleep without Van Helsing by his side. The hunter had been gone the entire evening reporting to the Order. He had left orders for Velkan to stay in the room and so Velkan had stayed, but he wasn’t happy about it.

When the door to the small room began to open, Velkan was up in a second. He gasped when he saw his exhausted lover leaning on the door and he rushed to his side and led him to the small bed in the corner. "Have you not slept at all?" Velkan asked, as he knelt in front of Van Helsing and began tugging at his boots.

Van Helsing shooed Velkan away gently. “No, but it looks like neither have you. How about we go for a quick morning repast and then catch some sleep, lupul?”

"How about you wait here and I'll go bring us back some breakfast?" Velkan countered. "You were swaying on your feet, Gabriel. It wouldn't do for the great monster hunter to be seen falling face first into his breakfast."

“No,” Van Helsing said firmly. He didn’t want Velkan to venture out on his own. “I want to show them they cannot tire me out.”

"Yes, Gabriel," Velkan subsided. He still didn't like it but at least he would be with his Master to make sure he was alright. He started to ask Gabriel why he was so adamant about him venturing outside their room but one look at his exhausted face stopped him. Maybe he could talk to Carl later. The friar seemed as worried about him as Gabriel did.

“I want you to say close to me,” Van Helsing said as the walked down the hall. Another part of him wanted to show Velkan off. The younger man needed a shave and his hair was messy, but it was charming when set off against another new outfit.

"As if I'd let you out of arm's reach right now," Velkan muttered in reply. As they approached the dining hall, they met up with Carl. He seemed to have been waiting for them and joined them as they walked inside.

It looked like different ethnicities in the order took turns supplying cooks. Today it was the Buddhist monk faction cooking and the food looking foreign to Velkan, who was used to gypsy cuisine.

“What is it?” Velkan asked when they said down. He made sure he was pressed as close to Van Helsing as he could be.

"It's a type of porridge," Carl replied. "It's quite good actually. Try a little honey to sweeten it."

“I don’t think I want any,” Velkan said, pushing his bowl away.

“Lupul…” Van Helsing sighed. He didn’t want to order the young man to eat, so instead he decided to try something different. “Why not try some of mine?” he offered and held up his own spoon.

Velkan didn't hesitate. He leaned over and ate the offered bite. It felt strange on his tongue, but the taste wasn't bad. When Van Helsing went to feed him another bite, he shook his head. "You first," he whispered. "You have to eat, too."

“Very well,” Van Helsing agreed and took a bite.

That was how they worked through his bowl and even finished Velkan’s. Once he had finished eating, Velkan’s sleepless night was beginning to catch up with him as he started to nod off. As Van Helsing was discussing his training with Carl, he guided Velkan’s head onto his shoulder and wrapped an arm around his waist.

Carl could feel the eyes of the others on them and knew Van Helsing could as well. "Perhaps we should continue this conversation in your room?" he suggested, wanting to get Velkan out from under such intense scrutiny, even if the young man was unaware of it.

“I won’t hide what I have with him,” Van Helsing growled under his breath.

"I'm not asking you to," Carl replied. "But you don't have to throw it in their faces, either. Velkan isn't a trophy on display. He's your lover and he deserves some dignity. Believe me, Gabriel, everyone here knows exactly what he is to you now."

“I barely touched him,” Van Helsing said under his breath and brought his hand up touch Velkan’s cheek. “Time to wake up, Velkan.”

"Gabriel?" Velkan said wearily. "Did I fall asleep?" His mind was fuzzy and he had to fight his way awake. He had felt safe and secure, sleeping in Van Helsing's arms, and wanted to return.

“Just drifted off,” Van Helsing told him softly. “We can go back to our room and both sleep.”

"What about Carl?" Velkan asked, not considering how that might sound to the various priests sitting around them.

“I… I have to go to confession,” Carl managed to stammer out, turning red.

"But after that?" Velkan pressed. "You'll come to bed then?"

Carl would rather face the wrath of the Pope himself than disappoint Velkan when he looked at him like that. The young man had faced death and pain, and yet in many ways he was naive of the politics of the Church. “Yes,” Carl agreed very quietly.

"Mmm... good," Velkan murmured sleepily. "Gabriel always sleeps better when you're with him."

Just as Carl turned a brighter shade of red and groaned, Van Helsing started to pull his lover to stand. “Time to go, Velkan.”

Velkan let himself be guided up but before Van Helsing could pull him away from the table, he leaned down and placed a kiss atop Carl's head. "Don't be too long," he said, then he was being pulled toward his lover's room rather quickly.

Cardinal Jinette had been watching their interactions from the corner of the room and when the lovers left, he came towards Carl in a flutter of robes. “Brother Carl, I will see you in my study. Now.”

"Yes, Cardinal," Carl replied softly. He stood and followed the Cardinal, trying to think of how he would explain all of this without sounding like he was lying.

Once they were alone in the Cardinal’s study, the man glared at Carl. “Give me one reason I shouldn’t excommunicate you right now?”

"It's not what you think," Carl said quickly. "I am not their lover, nor have I ever been."

“And what about them?” Jinette demanded. “They were acting like husband and wife.”

"You don't want me to answer that question," Carl replied. "They are not clergy. They have taken no vows. Their private lives should be their own."

“Van Helsing is indebted to the Order,” Jinette insisted. His hand was idly playing with his rosary. “His actions reflect upon us all.”

"Really? I would have thought the fact he is a wanted murderer would reflect more poorly than the possibility he is a sodomite," Carl shot back. "Tell me something, Cardinal. How is it that you knew there were other vampires besides Dracula, yet we knew nothing of it?"

“You did not need to know,” the Cardinal answered. “Van Helsing is a useful tool in the fight against evil. We cannot have him distracted by a catamite.”

"If you try to separate them, he will leave the Order," Carl said. "As will I." He believed that what the two men shared was right and good and he would not stand by and allow the Cardinal and his machinations to undo them.

“You are a mere friar,” Jinette hissed, taking a threatening step towards Carl. “You have no power. It would be so easy to take away your access to your beloved laboratory.”

"Yes, I suppose it would," Carl said, swallowing nervously. "But I will not let you or anyone else separate them."

“It would be equally easy to have young Velkan disappear…”

"No!" Carl said, taking a step toward the Cardinal, his fists clenched. "Do that and you will destroy Van Helsing. And when he finds out the Order was behind it, he will not rest until he has destroyed *it* as well."

“Then give me a reason to let Van Helsing keep his catamite!” Jinette hissed. “We are damning that boy’s soul.”

"His soul is not damned," Carl insisted. "What reason do you want? The only one I can give you is that they love each other. Van Helsing has known so little love in his life. Would you truly take this from him now? Tell me, Cardinal, what must I do to convince you?"

“Let me talk to the boy.” He was already starting to see that there might be a way to turn this to his advantage, but first he had to see to the young man as a member of his flock.

"Van Helsing won't like it," Carl said. "Perhaps, if I accompanied him..."

“Is the boy not able to think for himself?” Jinette challenged.

"Of course he is. But Van Helsing is very... protective of him. Velkan has lost so much in his short life. He does not wish to see him hurt further."

“Is that why he acts the way he does?” Jinette sighed. He had seen many people become lunatics after a confrontation with evil. “The poor boy’s not right in the head.”

"I assure you, Velkan is in full possession of his faculties. He is simply a young man in love, possibly for the first time in his life. What is so wrong with that?"

“He is in love with another man. Not only a man, but a murderer.”

"Van Helsing is no murderer!" Carl all but shouted, suddenly enraged that this man above all others would say such a thing.

“He is the sword of our Lord God,” Jinette amended. “But unpredictable.”

"Unpredictable?" Carl challenged, his anger completely overshadowing his common sense. "Or do you mean uncontrollable? That's what you fear most about Van Helsing, isn't it? That one day you won't be able to make him jump for you any more. That one day he'll see that you're using him."

The Cardinal had to admit that it was true and in that second he decided that maybe Velkan would be useful after all. The young man could be used to control Van Helsing. “Perhaps I have been too harsh,” Jinette said carefully.

Carl studied the other man, some of Van Helsing's inherent mistrust rubbing off on him. He knew the Cardinal was up to something. He would have to warn Van Helsing to be even more mindful of Velkan. "If you have no further need of me, Cardinal..."

“You’ll bring the boy to me later in the day,” Jinette told him. “If you must come with him, then I’ll tolerate it to appease Van Helsing.”

"Very well," Carl said, bowing slightly. "I'll bring him after noon meal." Carl left the Cardinal's study quickly and hurried toward Van Helsing's quarters. He ignored the looks and whispers of the others. It wasn't the first time he'd been whispered about in the halls of the Vatican.

When Carl got back to the room, he found that Van Helsing was wide awake and Velkan slept with his head on the older man’s lap. “What, or should I say who, kept you?”

"Cardinal Jinette," Carl replied. "We... had a... talk. He wants to speak to Velkan. I told him I'd bring him after noon meal today."

“No,” Van Helsing said simply. His fingers were carding through Velkan’s hair as he slept.

"I don't think he'll take no for an answer on this," Carl said wearily as he sat down on the side of the narrow bed. "I got him to agree to let me accompany him. Gabriel... God forgive me... but whatever you do... don't trust him."

“I will not trust him,” Van Helsing agreed. “Tell me… do you think that we will have to speak with Velkan about the Cardinal?”

"Oh, of a certainty," Carl said. "I think he will try to convince Velkan to honour his father's wishes and produce an heir. Gabriel... I did not tell him what... what the vampire did to me. I would rather those secrets remain between us."

“As it should,” Van Helsing agreed. “What all of us share is also our business.”

"He threatened to excommunicate me," Carl said, laughing darkly. "I should have told him to go ahead. I feel these robes are a mockery now. Will I always feel this way?"

“I do not think so… already you are coping better,” Van Helsing told him. “I have a vague memory of recovering from such horrors.”

Carl looked at the other man in shock. "I would never have thought... you do not seem... as I am. I could barely stand to eat in the hall. It was only your presence that gave me strength."

“I think we all prefer the company of each over the company of anyone else. I will be glad to be away from this place.”

"This has ever been my home... my sanctuary. Yet, I will be glad to be gone from here, too. Maybe next time, we shan't come back at all." Carl spoke wistfully, knowing the words were sure folly. They would come back, the most faithful of dogs, and do their masters' bidding.

“I am thinking I shall negotiate some time off for us,” Van Helsing told Carl, smiling evilly. “I will return to work for them, but with conditions. A part of the year off and a home base of our choice… at their cost, of course. A nice isolated home somewhere. Room for Velkan and I to hunt and a lab for you.”

"He already thinks me your catamite as well as Velkan," Carl said. "I told him it wasn't like that but I doubt if he believed me. If you do this, there will be no convincing him otherwise."

“Does the idea greatly bother you?” Van Helsing asked, looking away from the friar. The truth was, as time passed he hoped Carl would heal enough to join them. While he and Velkan would walk the earth for an undetermined amount of time, their time with Carl would be limited.

"No," Carl said softly. "I have been thought of as many things, a catamite will not be the worst of them. I was thinking more of you. I am not... much of a man anymore."

“I have never liked the terms catamite or sodomite,” Van Helsing said. “They have no hateful name for a man who loves women, why one who prefers the company of men?”

"You are right. I should not have used them," Carl replied. "But you best get used to hearing them for it is what Velkan will be called. Gabriel... may I ask you something?"

“You can ask me anything,” Van Helsing said and then added the complaint. “Why would he be called the catamite and not me?”

"Because no one would be foolish enough to say that to you. He will be seen as the younger, less experienced, partner. The derisive comments will be directed at him." Carl paused for a moment, gathering his courage. He wasn't sure if he truly wanted the answer to his question, but he had to ask. "Gabriel... what do you want from me?"

So it came down to this moment that Van Helsing had feared. “At first I wanted the benefit our your knowledge,” he admitted. “Then your friendship… now, you are family. But I will not hold you to me if you do not wish it.”

"You speak of family, but I don't think you mean that in a brotherly sense," Carl said, studying his friend closely. "Am I wrong?"

“Perhaps not.” Van Helsing was afraid to admit his true emotions, lest he scared off the other man. He envied Velkan for being able to sleep through all of this.

"Tell him, Gabriel," Velkan whispered softly, making Van Helsing jump. "He will not leave us and he deserves the truth."

“I care for you deeply,” Van Helsing said, looking up at Carl. “And not like a brother.”

"Do you want me?" Carl asked boldly. He tried to quell his body's sudden shaking but he couldn't. He trusted these two men with his life. He knew they would never betray his wishes, no matter what they might desire. Still, after everything, he couldn't help but be afraid.

“Yes, but I would not do anything you do not wish.”

"I... I may ne-never be able..." Carl trailed off. "The thought of being touched... by anyone... I would rather die."

“And I would never force you,” Van Helsing said quickly. “You mere presence is enough. I do not love you for what you can or cannot give me.”

Velkan sat up then and laid a hand on Carl's trembling shoulder. "We're here for you. Whatever you need. Come, you're body is still healing and you are exhausted. Rest with us."

“I do love you both,” Carl told them as he moved lie with the two men.

Velkan manoeuvred them until Carl was lying between them. He leaned over and placed a chaste kiss on Carl's cheek, not daring to kiss his lips. "Sleep, Carl. We're here and we shall protect you."

*

“You don’t have to go,” Van Helsing told Velkan. Sometimes Van Helsing wished that Velkan feared more than losing him.

“I do and I will,” Velkan told him. “I don’t fear this Cardinal.”

"I'll stay with him, Gabriel," Carl said. "I won't leave him alone with Jinette."

“Gabriel… you know that I’m a hunter in my own right,” Velkan sighed. “There’s nothing an old priest can do to me.”

"He might be an old priest," Carl warned, "but he has power here. Be wary, Velkan."

Van Helsing drew Velkan into a deep kiss and only let him go when he was panting. “Yes, please be wary, lupul.”

"For you," Velkan promised, pulling away reluctantly. "Let us go, Carl. I want to get this over with."

As they left the room and started to walk down the hall, Velkan waited until there was no one else around before he told Carl, “I know they think we are both his catamites.”

"They do at that," Carl agreed. "Just ignore them. They'll soon tire of whispering if they see it gets no reaction from us."

“It does no bother me as it is appropriate for me, but I don’t like anyone insulting you like that,” Velkan told him.

"I don't consider it an insult, even if it isn't true. Let them think I'm lucky enough to lie with the two of you. I'll not dissuade them."

Velkan reached out and grabbed Carl’s hand to squeeze it just outside of the Cardinal’s study. “You are with us in everything.”

Carl smiled at Velkan then knocked on the Cardinal's door. They heard a gruff "enter" and proceeded inside. Not wanting the entire place to hear their conversation, Carl closed the door behind them.

“I’ve brought Velkan Valerious to see you, Sir,” Carl said formally. He used Velkan’s last name to remind the man of Velkan’s status and illustrious family.

"So I see," Cardinal Jinette replied. "You may leave us now, Carl." He waived his hand toward the door in dismissal. He would have this talk with the young prince alone, whether Van Helsing liked it or not.

“I will not,” Carl said. “I promised Van Helsing I would stay by his side.”

"You forget your place, *friar*. You will wait in the hall."

“It’s alright, Carl,” Velkan said. “I’ll be fine.”

Carl hesitated. He had promised Van Helsing he would stay with Velkan, yet he should be safe enough in the Cardinal's study. "I shall await you in the hall then," Carl said. He bowed once to the Cardinal then left the room, reluctantly closing the door behind him once more.

“What is so important that you must draw me away from my friends?” Velkan asked Jinette arrogantly.

"I see Van Helsing has already managed to corrupt you with his intolerable manners," Jinette replied. "Very well, I shall get to the point of things. Your family has long been allied with the Church. I owe it to your father to show you the folly of your ways."

“My father was a man obsessed with saving his own soul,” Velkan spat. “If I used your backwards way of looking at the world, then he was responsible for corrupting my sister. He raised her as a man, allowing her freedoms your Church deems unnatural. So do not speak to me about loyalty to my dead father.”

"Tell me, Velkan, do you truly enjoy being Van Helsing's catamite?" the Cardinal asked, trying a different approach. It was clear the boy had no loyalty to his family whatsoever.

“He is most satisfactory,” Velkan answered back with a smirk.

"So you enjoy being whispered about? Everyone is speaking of it. Talking of how Van Helsing has corrupted you, of how he's bent you to his will and uses your body for his pleasures. Even of how he's managed to corrupt the poor friar..."

“Do not speak of Carl that way!” Velkan snapped. “Fine, I’m Van Helsing’s catamite, but Carl is not.”

"So you say," Jinette replied calmly. "But I do not think I believe you. Perhaps the Inquisitors should speak with Carl. They have a way of getting the truth out of a man, no matter how strong-willed he might be."

That was meant to scare him. It was supposed to make him think that Jinette would do something to Carl. Velkan scowled at the other man and stepped closer to him. “Did you know I killed my first Dwergi when I was eight years old?” he asked in a deadly calm voice. “My father was using me for bait to attract Dracula’s brides by the time I was ten. I cried the first time he tied me to that post. I’ve lost count of how many monsters and men I’ve killed over my life. So your Inquisitors don’t scare me.”

"Perhaps not," Jinette replied, equally calm. "But they terrify Carl. He's seen what they can do to a man, especially one accused of crimes against the Church. Imagine how much more brutal they would be to one of their own accused of such a thing."

“I offered to kill him before,” Velkan told the other man. He had reached into the waist of his pants and pulled out a knife. “We would try to rescue him and kill countless of your little holy men in the process, but I’d rather see him dead than tortured at your hands.”

"You are mistaken there. Van Helsing will not kill innocent priests. His soul is damned enough without adding that particular sin. He will try to get to Carl, but he will also be trying not to hurt anyone and that is why he will fail."

“And that is why he has me now, Cardinal Jinette,” Velkan said, twirling the knife in his hand. “If you knew my father then you will have known the skills I was taught.”

"You are one man, Velkan," the Cardinal pointed out. "Even if you kill me, I have left instructions for others. You can not hope to defeat all of us and get your little whore out of here in one piece."

“I am a damned man, Cardinal,” Velkan laughed, his eyes glittering dangerously. “Damned men are dangerous and I wouldn’t just kill you. I would kill you slowly… starting by making you a eunuch…”

Suddenly the door burst inward, making both men jump. "Enough!" Carl shouted. "Velkan, return to your quarters. The Cardinal and I will finish this... discussion."

“But, I want…” Velkan protested. The werewolf part of him that still remained wanted to rip the man apart piece by piece.

"Return to Van Helsing!" Carl snapped. "Now!" He knew exactly what Velkan wanted and he could not allow that to happen. If Velkan killed the Cardinal the Order would hunt him down like an animal. He would not allow that to happen. He would rather face the Inquisitors than see Velkan harmed.

“Yes, Carl,” Velkan said, giving into the friar like he did for Van Helsing. Before he left though, he held the knife up to his face and slowly licked it, knowing the Cardinal was watching him. “It would have tasted so sweet with his blood on it…”

"Go!" Carl hissed, shoving him toward the door. Once Velkan was safely outside, Carl whirled on the Cardinal. "Is that all you wanted him for? To threaten him into doing what you wanted?"

“No!” Jinette snapped back. “I wanted to try one last time to convince him to leave Van Helsing and settle down with a wife. If he was unredeemable, then I was going to offer him to become a hunter by Van Helsing’s side!”

"And you accomplish that by threatening to send me to the In-Inquisitors?" Carl hated that he stumbled over the dreadful word but he had seen first hand the methods they used to garner a confession.

“He had to be tested,” Jinette insisted. “He had to be proven loyal.”

Carl shook his head in disgust. "He has proven loyal, but not to the Church. He will never trust you now. And neither will I." Carl turned to leave, wanting only to get back to Van Helsing's quarters and forget all about this mess for a few moments.

“Brother Carl,” Jinette said. “It isn’t loyalty we’re looking for in a hunter, it’s the ability to kill when ordered. Tell Van Helsing that he can keep his little pet.”

Carl stopped, his hand on the door. "And what of me? Will he be allowed to *keep* me, as well?"

“He is a necessary evil,” Jinette looked as though he was satisfied with his decision. “You seem to settle both men. So, the answer is yes.”

Carl didn't reply, not trusting himself to do so without further endangering all of them. He left the Cardinal's study and headed straight to Van Helsing's room. He ignored the barely concealed whispers of catamite and whore as he walked, dismissing them as unimportant, even when coming from the mouths of men he used to call friends.

When he got back to the room, he found Velkan wrapped in Van Helsing’s arms. “What did that man do?” Van Helsing demanded coldly. Velkan wasn’t crying, instead he was thrashing in Van Helsing’s arm, looking like he was fighting the wolf he had once been.

"Nothing," Carl said numbly. He went to Velkan and wrapped his arms around him as well. "Hush... be still now... he won't threaten you again. It's over. It's over now."

“I want to kill him!” Velkan hissed, trying to escape both men’s grasp now. “Gabriel… let me kill him…”

"No!" Carl said sternly. "Do you not understand? They would hunt you down like an animal. Both of you. I would gladly turn myself over to the Inquisitors than see that happen to you."

Velkan reached out and started to stroke Carl’s face. “I am an animal.”

"No. You are Prince Velkan Valerious and you are a good man," Carl replied.

“I am Prince of nothing,” Velkan insisted.

"Save my heart," Van Helsing whispered softly, tightening his grip on Velkan.

“Gabriel…” Velkan whispered. “You are my heart.”

Van Helsing kissed him softly then looked at Carl. "Tell me what happened," he demanded. "What did he threaten the two of you with?"

“It doesn’t matter,” Carl insisted.

“He threatened to send Carl to the Inquisitors,” Velkan told Van Helsing.

"What!" Van Helsing snarled. "Why?"

“I threatened to kill him,” Velkan confessed.

"I'll do more than threaten," Van Helsing said, enraged that anyone would threaten Carl with such a thing. He would tear this place apart with his bare hands before he allowed Carl to be harmed.

“Do not do anything rash,” Carl implored. “Please, Gabriel.”

"Why not?" Van Helsing demanded. "He threatened to have you tortured until you confessed to whatever it was he wanted then he would have had you killed. No one survives a visit to his torturers."

“Because he’s decided to gift us to you,” Carl said. “We can get out of here.”

"Gift you to me?" Van Helsing repeated. "I don't understand." Surely Carl didn't mean that the way it sounded.

“He said you can keep us,” Carl mumbled.

"Keep you... like a couple of pets, I suppose," Van Helsing replied darkly. He wanted to hunt the Cardinal down and hurt him for saying such a thing about his family.

"How did you know he said that?" Carl mumbled again. His mind was reeling. Part of him was strangely happy that he would be deemed Van Helsing's property, but the other part was just confused.

"It sounded like something that bastard would say," Van Helsing replied. He looked at Carl and saw the lost look on his face. He damned Jinette in his mind again as he shifted Velkan over so he could draw Carl in closer. "We can leave here and never come back if you want."

"I'm thinking that home you were talking about…" Carl started. "I think that would be nice. You can continue to do your work for the Order, if you want. They could just send their missions there and we could decide whether or not to accept them."

"What about you?" Velkan asked. "I thought this was your home." He wasn't about to leave this place without Carl. That simply was not an option. If Carl refused to leave then they would stay with him, the Cardinal be damned.

"Not anymore," he said. "There is nothing here but my lab that I will miss and Gabriel has promised me another."

"Anything you want," Van Helsing vowed. "I want you two to start packing my things while I go inform the Cardinal. When I get back, we'll go collect what things of Carl's he wants to take, then we're leaving."

“Yes, Gabriel,” Velkan said, looking like he hadn’t quite pushed away the wolf. “Are you going to kill him?”

"No," Van Helsing replied in disgust. "As much as I want to, Carl is right. The Order would hunt us down for it and I'm not willing to sacrifice my family for my pride. I'm going to tell him we're leaving and that he can leave word in town for us."

“Can I kill him in the years to come?” Velkan challenged.

"Not if you wish me to remain with you," Carl said softly. "The threat was to me. Please honour my wishes in this."

Velkan wrapped his arms around the other man’s waist, then laid his head on Carl’s shoulder. “For you I won’t kill him, but can I at least send him some harassing letters?”

"Yes," Carl relented, snuggling into the embrace. He turned his head toward Velkan's and hesitantly kissed the other man on the mouth. The kiss was chaste, but it was still farther than Carl had gone with them.

“Thank you, Carl,” Velkan told him. “Thank you for giving me that.”

"I only wish I could give you more," Carl said, kissing him softly again. These two men had come to mean so much to him. He longed to show them exactly how much.

“Anything from you is a gift,” Velkan told him and kissed Carl on the cheek. He knew that Carl may never be able to give much physically, but he still had grown to love him. Not only because Van Helsing loved him, but in his own right. “I love you… and not just because Gabriel does.”

"I know," Carl said. "Gabriel, could we pack later? I'd like to just... lie down for a bit." What he didn't say was that he wanted them all to lie down. He wanted to feel the safety of their arms around him and forget all about the Cardinal's threats.

“Carl…” Van Helsing hesitated. “I want to get us out of here as soon as possible.” Van Helsing also supposed it was Carl’s tactic to calm him down.

"I know, I just... I guess I'm still on edge from the confrontation with the Cardinal. You're right, of course. We'll get your things packed and then we can get out of here."

Van Helsing was at a loss when Carl used that defeated tone. “I suppose a quick nap to calm us down wouldn’t be a bad idea,” he amended.

"No, Gabriel," Carl said, pulling out of Velkan's arms. "Go attend to the Cardinal. We should have this place ready to go by the time you get back."

“Velkan, please help Carl lie down,” Van Helsing sighed. Now he would tend to Carl, but he would see Jinette before they left.

"We don't have to," Carl protested as Velkan pulled him toward the bed. Velkan settled on the side farthest from the door and pulled Carl along until he lay spooned up beside him, leaving room for Van Helsing on the other side of him. Carl knew he should let the lovers lay together, but he wanted Velkan to himself for just a moment.

Van Helsing lay down behind Carl and laid his arm across both men. “Just remember, we’re family now.”

*

"Before you take your little playthings and leave, I thought I'd give you your next assignment," Cardinal Jinette said when Van Helsing stormed into his study.

“You’re assuming I’ll remain working for you!” Van Helsing spat.

"Of that, I have no doubt," Jinette replied. "As long as you remain working for the Order then I see no reason for anything to be done about your... friends. If, however, you chose to abandon your duty... well... "

Van Helsing knew that once you joined the order, it was for life and he didn’t know when it would end. “There will be conditions to our new arrangement,” Van Helsing said through clenched teeth.

"Of course," Jinette smiled widely. "You may keep your two catamites. I've already told Carl as much. Consider them yours. What else?"

“You will pay for a new base of operations for us,” Van Helsing said. His fists were clenched as he was struggling to keep his temper under control. “It will be of our choosing and the title will be under Carl’s name. We will never return here again.”

"Friar's are not allowed to possess such things," Jinette pointed out. "Will he be forsaking his vows completely for you?"

“Then put it under Velkan’s name,” Van Helsing snapped. “We will also be taking any equipment Carl wants from his lab. You will ship it at your cost to our new home.”

"Anything else?" Jinette asked, amusement tingeing his voice. He could see how angry Van Helsing was but the man was fighting to hold his temper in check.

“If you ever threaten either one of them again…” Van Helsing warned.

"Don't worry. I know better than to give you advance warning, Van Helsing. As long as you fulfill your duties, I see no reason to do anything to your catamites."

Van Helsing’s answer was to rip off the rosary that Jinette had given him many years ago. He took some satisfaction in the fact that he had watched Jinette age and knew he would not live for many more years. “I’ll see you in hell, Jinette.”

*

Their arrival in Transylvania was quiet and unnoticed. That suited Van Helsing perfectly. The less people who knew of their arrival, the better chance they had to surprise this fiend. He had tried to get Carl to stay behind, but the man had stubbornly refused. Their friar was definitely no coward.

Velkan soon found out that he had to hide his identity. The vampire might have set up in a new location, but the name Prince Velkan was recognizable over most of the territory. The Prince was also recognized as dead.

A hat, similar to Van Helsing's, was enough to obscure his face from most. As for his name, Van Helsing simply called him Lupul while Carl called him nothing. In fact, Carl was saying surprisingly little about anything as they made their way further into the country.

“The locals seem to accept that you call Velkan ‘wolf’,” Carl pointed out as they were setting up camp the night before they planned to attack the new vampire.

"Yes," Van Helsing said. "I think they're just glad we're not staying in their town."

“If we stayed in town, we wouldn’t be able to stay together,” Velkan pointed out. “And that means both of you can stay away from the bar wenches.”

"He only has eyes for you," Carl said, smiling at Velkan's familiar possessiveness. "I doubt any of those hussies could give him a tenth of what he gets from you."

Velkan straightened under Carl’s praise, almost preening. “The same goes for you, Carl.”

"You have nothing to worry about there," Carl told him. "I am ever the eunuch."

“I’ve never seen a eunuch do what you did last night,” Velkan said with a smirk. He had learned that humour was often the best way to deal with Carl’s self-deprecation. It would make the man smile, rather than fall into self-pity.

"I must admit, you... arouse me," Carl replied, blushing.

“I like watching you when you touch yourself,” Velkan whispered, leaning in closer to Carl. “Knowing I made you hard.”

Suddenly, Carl pulled Velkan to him and kissed him hard on the mouth. The other man's words had brought the previous night back in a rush and Carl couldn't stop himself from finally tasting Velkan. As soon as he realized what he was doing, however, he jumped back as if scalded. "I'm sorry," he said, looking away from the other man.

“Thank you, Carl,” Velkan said softly. It was what he told the man every time their relationship progressed another step. He never said anything else or told Carl not to apologize.

"One of these days I'm going to step over the line and Gabriel is going to thrash me," Carl joked weakly. He was still unsure about his place in all of this. He knew they loved him, but both men were notoriously jealous of the other.

“He would never harm you,” Velkan assured him. “He’s told me that if he didn’t know we would hunt down, he’s thought about leaving me with you.”

"Whatever for?" Carl asked in a panic. He didn't want Van Helsing to leave and he especially didn't want him to leave Velkan. He'd rather crawl back to the Cardinal first.

“He had some noble idea that we would be better off without him.” Velkan looked back at Van Helsing who was starting a fire several feet away.

"The only one this trio would be better off without, is me," Carl said, making sure Van Helsing heard him. "You two belong together and I don't want to hear another word about one of you leaving, is that understood?"

“Would the holy trinity be complete without any one of its parts?” Van Helsing asked, trying to term it in a way Carl would understand.

"Do not blaspheme, Gabriel," Carl admonished. "And no, it would not. Neither, probably, would we. But the truth is, I am the most expendable member of this party and we all know it."

Van Helsing walked over to Carl and laid his hand on the man’s cheek. He was happy to see the friar only flinched slightly. “You are our soul, Carl.”

"Then we are surely damned," Carl chuckled. When Van Helsing started to pull away, Carl grabbed his arm, stopping him. "Gabriel..."

“Yes?” Van Helsing asked. He hadn’t pushed Carl in anything, even as he watch Carl exploring his limits with Velkan before falling asleep at night.

"May I kiss you?" Carl asked nervously. He knew what they were going up against in the morning and he didn't want to die without ever having shared even that small intimacy with his friend.

“Only if you want to,” Van Helsing answered him.

Carl leaned in closer to him and pulled Gabriel's head down toward him. He kissed him softly at first, then let his tongue run over Gabriel's lips and slip inside his mouth. By the time he pulled back, he was shaken and had to grip his friend's arms tightly to steady himself.

“You are more than my soul,” Van Helsing breathed heavily, still with his eyes closed. “You are also my delight.”

"Can I watch you make love again tonight?" Carl asked. "I want to see that one more time before..."

“Yes,” Van Helsing agreed. “But we will all make it through tomorrow’s plan and the fiend will die.”

"I pray you're right, but if we do not, thank you both for what you have given me these last weeks."

*

“I can’t believe he bit me there,” Velkan sighed as Carl made sure the bite wound wouldn’t become infected.

"It's the wolf in him," Carl told him. "It still comes to the surface sometimes, especially where you are concerned. It was quite erotic to watch, though."

“Oh, I’m not complaining,” Velkan said quickly. “It’s just a little tender when riding.”

"I'll make sure to tell him not to do that again when we have to travel the next morning," Carl said. "Unless he'd like a similar bite of his own."

“I’d like to see that!” Velkan chuckled. “And I bet Gabriel would more than happy to comply.”

"Maybe," Carl said hesitantly, then changed the subject. "How much further to the cave, do you think?"

“I would say a good hour ride from here,” Velkan answered. “Those arrowheads you made embedded with holy water and werewolf hair should help once we get there.”

"Let us hope so," Carl replied. "I know Gabriel wanted me to stay behind, but I could not. I could not stand by and watch you two face that fiend alone."

“Just promise me that you’ll let us handle the fighting.” Velkan trusted Carl’s abilities, but he and Van Helsing still had superior human strength from the residual werewolf effects. Carl was far more vulnerable than they were.

"As much as I can, yes," Carl told him. "But I will not stand by and watch either of you be hurt if there is anything I can do to prevent it."

“You both look so serious,” Van Helsing said, walking towards. “Just tell me I didn’t bite him too hard.”

"He'll feel it when he rides, but it won't be a hindrance," Carl said before Velkan could reply. "Just make sure you don't do it again or you'll have one of your own to contend with."

“Carl…” Velkan whined. “I *like* it when he bites me!”

"Not when we have to ride out the next morning," Carl countered. "At least chose a spot that won't be quite so painful. You were a very bad wolf, Gabriel."

Van Helsing merely licked his lips. “But his… attributes are so tasty. I could not resist.”

"You'll resist next time or you'll have a matching one, I promise," Carl told him sternly.

“That sounds more like a reward to me,” Van Helsing said. “But I promise to ask your permission next time.”

"I could always use a cane," Carl threatened. "If the bite isn't enough of a deterrent, I'm sure that would be enough pain even for you."

But Carl’s threat didn’t have the reaction he expected. Instead Van Helsing closed his eyes and shivered. “Maybe we should… should go over the weaponry now?”

"You would like that?" Carl asked, ignoring his friend's attempt to change the subject.

“Carl… I don’t think we should talk about my newly discovered perversions,” Van Helsing sighed.

"Very well," Carl relented. "But after we take care of... business... we are definitely going to discuss it. Perhaps even more than that." That being said, Carl went to the weapons and began methodically checking each and every one of them. At least this new twist had taken his mind off the pending battle for a bit.

When they rode away from camp, they were all armed to the teeth and solemn. Carl knew he was loved when Velkan prayed with him without being asked.

They stopped just short of reaching the cave and left the horses tied to trees in the forest. They would go on foot from here, hoping to seize the advantage of surprise. None of them had any idea how many of those creatures the vampire had or if he had any other "helpers" inside. They had seen no signs of a werewolf, but that didn't necessarily mean anything.

What they didn’t expect was a combined attack from an ogre and the Dwergi. The ogre surprised them with an assault from a nearby outcropping by throwing boulders and the Dwergi swarmed towards them on the ground.

The fighting was brutal and there was no way for Carl to stay out of it. As he fought, he found himself being forced farther and farther from his companions. Too late, he realized what was happening. He tried to call out to Van Helsing, but the Dwergi attack suddenly tripled, driving him to the ground.

Together Van Helsing and Velkan killed the ogre, but when they turned around, they found both Carl and the Dwergi gone. “Gabriel… where’s Carl?” Velkan demanded.

"Damn it!" Van Helsing swore. He followed the tracks until he found the spot where Carl had been brought down. There was blood, but not enough to be life-threatening. From there, only the tracks of the Dwergi could be seen heading toward the cavern. "They've taken him."

No further comments were needed as they rushed toward the cave entrance. When they entered the cave they found Carl pushed over an outcropping of rock with Kuai Deng standing behind him.

Carl was naked, his robes in a shredded pile on the floor. Tears streamed down his face as he gripped the rock ledge tightly and begged, "Please, Master. Fuck me. Please..."

Van Helsing knew that Carl was mesmerized by the vampire and not in control of his actions. He remembered that from when he had rescued Anna. “Step away from him,” Van Helsing shouted, pointing his crossbow at the vampire’s head.

"Why ever would I do such a thing? Especially after all the trouble he went to coming back to me," the vampire said. "He is such a beautiful whore. I knew he would return to me."

Van Helsing’s answer was to fire the crossbow, satisfied when it landed with a sickening thump into the vampire’s skull. “Go feral, Velkan!” Van Helsing shouted out.

Carl felt his Master jerked back from him and screamed in rage. How dare these *humans* try to take his Master from him. Snarling in rage, Carl launched himself at Van Helsing, intent on tearing the other man apart.


Without hesitation Van Helsing smashed his fist into Carl’s face. He controlled the punch, making sure it would only be enough to knock his friend out. It would be safer if Carl was out of the way when they killed Kuai Deng.

Velkan saw Carl go down and howled in rage. He turned his attention back to the vampire and leapt toward him, the wolf surging through his veins. He would destroy this fiend that had sought to take his mate with his bare hands.

The fight was brutal as both men attacked the vampire with everything they had. They stayed in human form, but fought with the residual strength of the werewolf.

The vampire had not expected such fierce opposition, especially considering the ease with which Van Helsing had left the other man behind before. "You surprise me, Hunter," the vampire said, as he barely avoided another blow. "I hadn't thought the little whore meant that much to you."

“He’s our mate!” Van Helsing cried out. He pumped an arrow into the Kuai Deng’s throat and howled when blood flowed out… what would have been Carl’s blood. Both Van Helsing and Velkan launched themselves onto the collapsed figure. Using their teeth and fingers to rip out the vampire’s throat.

Once they were sure the vampire was dead, his body decomposing before them, they rushed to Carl. He had regained consciousness at one point and had crawled into a corner of the cavern... the very same corner Van Helsing had found him in the first time the vampire had taken him.

Van Helsing was trying in vain to wipe the blood away in order not to scare Carl, but it was useless as they were both covered in it. “Carl? It’s over… he’s dead.”

Carl shied away from them, trying to crawl even further into the dark corner. "Leave me. I belong here... with him."

Van Helsing stared at him in horror, then reached down and grabbed him by the back of his head. "You don't belong here. You belong to *me*! Do you hear me? You're mine. Now get up!"

“Why would you want me?” Carl howled out, struggling to get out of his grasp. “I’m a whore!”

"You're no whore!" Van Helsing shouted. "You're mine and I won't let that thing have you. You had no control over what he did, Carl. You were under his thrall."

“Gabriel…” Carl stopped struggling and starting to sob. “He was… going to do it to me again… I was begging for it!”

"Shhh..." Van Helsing said, pulling Carl into his arms. "It's over now. He's gone for good. He can't hurt you anymore."

“Did you mean it?” Carl asked in a shaky voice.

"Mean what?" Van Helsing asked.

“That I belong to you?” Carl was clinging Van Helsing like he was the cornerstone of his existence.

"Yes," Van Helsing replied without hesitation. "You're mine, Carl. I think... I think you always have been. I was just too blind to see it. You ready to get out of here now?"

“Yes, Gabriel,” Carl agreed. He would agree to anything to escape the cave which had become his hell on earth.

"Here," Velkan said, handing Carl his overcoat. "Put this on until we get back to camp."

Carl just accepted the coat and Van Helsing’s support. The trip back to camp was a blur, just as was the time Velkan and Van Helsing spent cleaning and tending to his wounds. He didn’t fight them at all, but simply submitted to the careful treatment.

"I really was a whore the first time he took me, you know," Carl said suddenly. He had spoken little of that time, but now he needed them to know.

“How’s that?” Van Helsing asked. It was a good sign that Carl wanted to talk about it and he had to encourage that.

"I came," Carl said in disgust. "It hurt. It hurt more than anything ever had before, yet I was begging him for more. Why do you think I wanted to die so badly? I knew what I had become and today only proved it."

“Sometimes your heart can’t control your body,” Van Helsing assured Carl. “Would you blame Velkan for what he did when he was a werewolf?”

"Of course not," Carl replied, growing agitated. "But he was under the influence of the werewolf venom. I have no excuse other than I am a whore."

“Carl… would you have blamed Anna when she was dancing and clinging to Dracula?”

"Anna wasn't begging to be fucked," Carl spat. "Besides that, she was in a roomful of vampires. I wouldn't blame her for anything she had to do to survive that intact. He was going to make me one of them. He said... said he needed a mate. He said I'd be his forever."

“But you couldn’t be his if you were already mine, now could you?” Van Helsing asked. Maybe it was time to fight the vampire’s so-called claim with another claim.

"I'm not yours, Van Helsing," Carl said, turning his face away. "You've staked no claim on me, not that I blame you."

Van Helsing tightened his hand on the back of Carl’s neck and growled, “Is that what it would take?”

Carl whimpered at the harshly growled words and looked about frantically for Velkan. He knew he wasn't thinking rationally but he didn't care. He wanted the security that Van Helsing's *claim* would give him. "Velkan?"

“Carl… he would never hurt you,” Velkan said. He was crouched a few feet away watching the interaction very carefully. “I think he claimed you the moment he saw you and it’s alright with me now.”

"Are you sure?" Carl asked, desperation creeping into his voice. "I would rather live with this taint forever than hurt you."

“Yes, I love you, Carl,” Velkan told him. “Just as Gabriel loves you.”

"You'll stay with me? You won't leave?" Carl pressed.

“Never,” Van Helsing promised Carl. “You belong not only to me, but also to Velkan.”

"Then do it," Carl said. He began struggling to roll over onto his stomach, his newest round of cuts and bruises making his movements stiff. He remembered what Van Helsing had been like when he'd claimed Velkan and wondered for a moment what phase the moon was in right now.

Carl hadn’t been raped psychically this time, but his mind was in pieces. Maybe he and Velkan were the only ones who could help put him back together. He wanted to asked if Velkan could participate, too, but Carl didn’t want to be asked anything. He wanted to be rid of the vampire’s claim.

“Velkan, get me the oil and prepare him for me,” Van Helsing demanded.

"With pleasure, Gabriel," Velkan replied. He wanted Carl to know that he wanted this as much as they did. He wanted to see the friar healed of his torment and bound to them fully.

As Velkan moved to quickly grab the oil, Van Helsing started to gently touch Carl. Just soft ghosts of touches still over his clothing that he could barely feel. “Carl, you know you’re beautiful… but not just your body… your soul and mind.”

"I was never beautiful," Carl replied, letting the soft touches calm his ragged nerves. "But I love you for saying it. I want to be yours, Gabriel. Yours and Velkan's. I want that more than anything."

“Then it will be,” Van Helsing whispered to him. As his lover approached them, Van Helsing gave Carl a warning, “Velkan is going to touch you now.”

"Al-al-alright," Carl said, his fear coming back. He felt Velkan start to remove his robes and tensed but said nothing. He told himself over and over again that he wanted this and had nothing to fear from these men.

“I’m touching you now,” Velkan said, running a single finger gently down Carl’s spine.

"Talk... talk to me, Velkan. I need to hear your voice," Carl whispered. Memories of other touches came back to him. Some of them had been soft caresses like Velkan's, but others had been brutal and Carl had never known which he would feel.

“Your skin is so soft,” Velkan told him. “I don’t think of you as a friar like this, but simply… Carl.”

"I do not think anyone will think of me as a friar anymore," Carl replied. He shivered when Velkan touched his back. When he felt his hand start to move lower, he began to shake, unable to stop himself.

“You’re being touched with love,” Velkan tried to calm Carl down. He softly used one hand to palm Carl’s cheek.

"I kn-know. Go ahead. I want you to... really."

Velkan oiled his fingers and then carefully touched Carl’s opening, teasing it with just one finger. He could see Carl tense under his touch, so he didn’t penetrate right away.

Carl started to shake even harder and had to bite his lip to keep from crying out for Velkan to stop. He knew, in his head, who was touching him, but all his body could remember were the hands of that monster on him, degrading him with every caress.

Van Helsing let it continue until Velkan first penetrated Carl the man started to weep. “Velkan, that’s enough,” Van Helsing said. “I think Carl understand he belongs with us now.”

"Shhh... I'm sorry," Velkan said as he slid his finger free and moved up beside Carl. "I'm sorry. I didn't mean to hurt you. Please don't cry, beloved."

“Too much…” Carl sobbed. “All just too much.”

"It's alright," Van Helsing said as he lay down on the other side of Carl. "It's over now. He's gone and he'll never hurt you again. It's alright, Carl. You're safe now."

“You promise that you’ll never leave me?” Carl begged. They were his only hope in the despair he felt, even when a higher power felt so far away.

"Never, we swear it," Van Helsing vowed. He looked across at Velkan and saw the same determination mirrored in his eyes. Carl belonged to them and God help anything that tried to change that now.



END.