"I'm sorry," Edward mumbled, touching her shoulder. "Listen, there is something I need to talk to you about, but no one else can hear it yet."
"How is she?" he whispered. "I'd ask myself, but I don't want to bother her."
"Hannah," Edward called out, feeling lonely and worried. He wanted to stay distanced from Beatrice, but hated being alone. "Can I talk to you?"
Edward grimaced, regretting yelling at Van Helsing. He listened to Hannah and Jinx, waiting for night to fall so he could talk to Hannah alone.
"Nothing," Edward snapped back, shobing Van Helsing off of him. "It's not your business. And," he added, feeling malicious for no reason, "you need me more than you're aware of." With that, he stalked away, opening the door to the carriage and slamming it shut behind him as he climbed in.
That's not the point, Edward snapped, his head burning with Van Helsing's words. I need Lestat, dammit! He's just making it very hard to trust and like him right. But I have no choice...
Edward nodded his head in agreement. "Let's meet them back at the carriages when they're ready," he mutted, stalking off out of the trees.
Edward stepped over to Jinx, Carl, and Van Helsing. "He... he did it, didn't he?" he hissed, confirming what Lestat had insinuated with the blood on the ground. "Damn him!" He slammed his fists into the nearest tree. "Don't you see what he did?" Edward snarled now, turning to the three. "He's a clever, twisted, sadistic b.astard! He read her mind, seeing how left out she felt in her mind, how she would do anything to be of more help... and he did this to her? Damn him!" He turned again, putting his face in his hands, breathing heavily.
Edward gasped, flexing his fingers over his throat and walking toward the clearing he knew wasn't far away; he could hear Van Helsing's voice.
Edward nodded, unable to speak. Lestat smiled and let him down, stepping back and bowing graciously. Keep her close when you can, Edward, he murmured, his words soft instead of fire in his mind. But realize there will be times when you have to let her go... Then he was gone.
Edward sighed, and then aquiesed: Fine, Lestat. Have it your way. If I trust you, you'll give me what I want, is that right?
Tell me, Edward demanded through the pain. Tell me now. How do I kill John?I need to get to him soon, before he gets too stong of a hold on Hannah.
"Blood? Beatrice's?" Edward snapped, pulling away from Hannah and running over to the carriage, getting Van Helsing's gun. "It's Lestat, I know it," he muttered to her. "Stay here!" He turned and ran into the trees, his eyes adjusting to the dark immediately, the gun raised. Come out, you son of a b.itch, he snarled in his mind. Hannah's right not to trust you... what the hell did you do?
Edward decided to swallow his questions and drew her close to him, holding her head to his warm chest. "Calm down," he murmured, figuring it was the best thing to say. "Calm down and then tell me what's going on."
Edward saw Hannah and ran over to her, putting an arm around her shoulder. "What's the matter?" he asked right away, worried. "What's going on?"
Edward sat up, his body finally telling him to wake up move from its cramped position in the carraige. He yawned, cracked his back, and ran his hands through his messy hair. "Hannah?" he tried when he didn't see her near him. Daylight streamed through the carriage window and he climbed out, shielding hise eyes for a moment.
Edward slept on, his back and his mind thankful for the rest.
Edward smiled, finally falling asleep.
Edward found himself already half-asleep. "For..." he began, "...for being... here... that's it..."
"My pleasure," Edward agreed, wrapping his arms around her, pulling her cold body close to him, fitting against the shape of his chest. "Thank... you..." he murmured, his words slurred as he kissed the nape of her neck, yawning.
