"A kiss," Charolette whispered next to Edward's ear. "We'll start there, and then we'll see what I tell you." "No garantee?" Edward said, mentally raising his eyes. His lips hovered an inch from hers, and he couldn't help but smile at the teased look on her face. "That's not very fair to me." "It will be," Charolette whispered, and kissed Edward softly. He tried not to pull away, to think that her information would be more vital than anything else right now. He hardly noticed Charolette's hand on the back of his head, her fingers in his hair... "A werewolf," she said against his lips suddenly. Edward broke away from her, frowning again. "What?" he asked, confused. "Werewolf venom," Charolette whispered. "That will kill him." "You... you're certain? You know this for sure?" Edward asked, amazed. And to think Van Helsing didn't want my kind around! "Would I lie to you?" Charolette said with a smile, kissing his cheek and standing. "Now, are those all the questions you have?" Edward sighed, the information still swimming unbelievably in his head. "Yes," he said, draining his cup and standing himself. "Thank you." He turned to go, but Charolette caught his shoulder, spinning him around to face her. "If you don't leave before nightfall, you know where to find me," she whispered, bit his ear lightly, and then turned to walk back in between the bookshelves. Edward laughed to himself, running a hand through his hair. I've got to get back to Van Helsing and... his thought faltered as he exited the library. Hannah... he finished, frowning to himself. She doesn't need to know... for her own good.
"That's no concern of mine, anyway," Charolette sighed. "But I'm also not just going to hand out information. What are you going to do for me... for the answer to your question?" "You said everything's in these books, love," Edward said with a smile. "Couldn't I just look through them and find the answer myself... and not have to do anything?" "Where's the fun in that?" Charolette laughed, putting her hand to his face, brushing her fingertips along his unshaven chin. "Besides, half that is in latin, and I doubt you can read it." "Alright, then," Edward said, trying to ignore the shiver she sent down his spine. "What you do want?"
"How do you kill him?" Edward whispered, and, so she wouldn't be frightnened or leave, he put a hand to her cheek, brushing the curls back from her face. "All the normal ways to kill a vampire must have been used on him, yet he lives. So how is it done?" "Not very many know," Charolette replied, her smile still in place. "I do, but... I still don't understand why." "Why what?" Edward asked. "Why you need to know how to kill him," she said. "Is that the reason for your travel? To find Dracula and kill him?" She laughed again now, picking up her glass. "He killed my family," Edward spoke. Pity should get her to tell me, he thought, even though it hurt. "He deserves nothing less than death himself. "I see," Charolette replied. "It would be foolish to go after him alone. Do you have anyone to go with you?" "Yes," Edward said shortly. "But," he added, pushing another one of her curls off her shoulder, "I won't tell you who."
Edward sat at a table Charolette indicated, in one of the back, isolated corners of the library. There were no windows here, the table lit by candles in brackets nearby. Charolette sat the chair next to him, her long curls draping onto the table. She called out a man's name nearby and he came over. She whispered something into his ear and he left. "Where's he off to, love?" Edward asked, pulling the nearest book toward him. "Your drink," Charolette replied, pushing his hand out of the way and reaching for a different book. "Start with this one," she said, opening the old, leather cover. "Dracula," she whispered, "is what you want to know about, isn't it?" Edward frowned, catching her eye. She looked up at him, her nose inches from his own. "I never said that," he replied slowly. "Oh, I know," she laughed, straightening his collar and trailing her finger along the silver buttons of his coat. "But I can tell. You said the worst, and... well, there isn't much else worse than that. This book will help you, depending on what information on him you'd like." "I see," Edward replied, looking at the book now. "God," he whispered, skimming through the first few pages."He's been around for so many years!" "Thousands," Charolette replied. The man she'd spoken to came back now, two cups of warm ale in his hands. "Thank you," she said, pushing a glass toward Edward. "Some say he's the son of the devil," she whispered, catching Edward's eye again. "That's probably true," Edward replied, drinking around her shoulder because she sat so close to him. "I want to know something very important about him, though." "Well, then," Charolette said, slamming the book shut. Edward jumped slightly, backing away from her. She laughed quietly, grabbing his opposite shoulder so he faced her now. "You don't need the books. Ask me; I know all of it... as important as it gets."
Edward followed the girl as she headed to a back corner of the hundreds of shelves. He watched her reach up to several books, and then climb a nearby ladder to reach more. "Here," she began, handing him about half a dozen books and stepping down off the ladder. "Those are the best books. Not many people ask for them... and you still haven't told me your story yet." "Well, Charolette," Edward began, taking the books from her. "If you can find me somewhere to sit, a drink, and some... pleasurable company, I'm sure I can tell you'd what you want... as well as hearing you speak." She smiled. "That's easily done," she replied, tugging the collar of his shirt. "This way."
"Ah," the girl replied. "You seem like a traveler... what do you want with vampire lore?" Edward sighed. I can play her game, he thought. "I am," he spoke aloud. "And I don't plan to stay here long. I just heard the..." he faded off, reaching out to grab one of her curls and twist it between his fingers. "The... libraries..." he continued, "were worth looking at here. Am I wrong, miss?" The girl laughed, leaning closer. "Miss Charolette," she whispered. "And..." she paused, leaning so her lips were next to his left ear, "you're not wrong. Follow me."
"Are you sure?" she replied, stepping closer to him. "I know my way around the books very well. You can ask me anything." Edward cleared his throat, grinning. "Vampires," he voiced, hoping to catch her off guard and scare her away. "Particularly the worst of them all. I need information, history, anything you can... help me with."
"Can I help you find something?" Edward turned to see who had spoken to him. A young girl stood on the opposite side of the bookshelf from him, leaning against the shelf. Her long, black curls hung in front of her face, and he couldn't help but look at her curvy, slim figure embraced by a light blue, low cut dress. She smiled at him now, waiting for an answer to the question. "Yes," Edward spoke, returning the smile. "I don't know if you're the one to help me, though."
Edward found the library he was looking for quickly. All the buildings seemed to be labeled well and nicely placed, all inviting and nice-looking enough for him to not have to search all day to find anything he was looking for. He walked through the mountains and towering piles of books, the inside of the library not as well lit as the streets outside. Not many other people were inside, and the rows of books were quiet and cool as he searched, not really knowing what he was looking for.
Edward walked, ignoring other people that stared or tried to say politely hello to him as he passed. Everything in the city seemed so much nicer in the daylight, the buildings welcoming, shining, almost unreal. He made his way through to the center of the city, where he spotted the Vatican without even trying. The men in red robes and white collars all wandered around, and Edward watched them, lost in thought. I need to learn more about this Dracula if we're really going to kill him, he thought suddenly. I'm sure people have tried for centuries with the same old techniques and gotten no where. We can't get there and fail because we don't have the right knowledge! I need to find a library... I'm sure there's one nearby if not inside the Vatican itself...
"I'm going out, then," Edward said, not in the mood to argue, and left the stable, not really caring where he walked.
Edward sighed. "It's good idea, Hannah, like he said, though," he said in her ear. "I'm sure Elijah's not the only one with his views in this city, you know."
OOC: where is little angelyn? and all those random ppl that joined... whatever! i will bite the next time i see her!
Edward was slightly taken aback, but responded nonetheless: I am sorry that you think the two of us so weak minded. I think we are both strong enough and smart enough to be able to tell if things will 'work out.' But I appreciate your concern. Now, watch yourself with Jinx. She, if no one, is not a woman to be toyed with.
OOC: wow. i heart him.
"Don't worry about them," Edward muttered to Hannah. "I will tell him eventually," he said louder, turning to Van Helsing. "When it's... convienient for me."
"I don't either of you have anything to worry about..." Edward began. "He doesn't know a thing about me yet."
What are we going to do for the rest of the day? Edward thought. Wait for this friar? I have no idea...
OOC: i know, my desktop making skittles are beyong comparison! lolzzz you're welcome! BIC: Edward wrapped an arm around Hannah as he put Van Helsing's gun back into the fold of his belt. "You're welcome," he said. "I knew you wouldn't go far... oh," he added, turning to Van Helsing. "You don't mind me holding on to this thing, do you? I don't have and don't know how to use any other form of a weapon... and this isn't hard to learn..."
Edward sighed, lowering his gun. That man doesn't deserve to live, he thought visciously. But I'm not as coldhearted as him...
