Tag: Clara Grey

  • The Van Helsing Impetus – Excerpt No. 290

    She considered indulging in room service. The image of her sinking into the tub with wings unfurled, while sipping on champagne excited the mind. 

    You can’t wash away your guilt,” Ethereal reminded her.

    She decided against it; intent on enjoying the amenities of this hotel. Tonight, she would soak in the nostalgia, while gawking at the brass fittings, revolving doors, stunning chandeliers, and opulent carpets. This place brings me back to my time as a flapper.

    Picture of two legs in the water, knees together with them over the surface of the water. A hand rests atop them with coloured nails. Image by Cottonbro Studios from Pexels.

    Disclaimer: This excerpt from The Van Helsing Impetus is currently in development. There may be typos, errors, omissions, inconsistencies and so forth. The image is sourced from Pexels.


  • The Van Helsing Impetus – Excerpt No. 289

    The suite she booked at the hotel cost more per night than Elizabeth would pay in rent. She could not help but smile at the memory of cooking in that cramped kitchen. She loved it when Elizabeth checked her out thinking that the cook was otherwise too busy to notice. I just had to fuck it all upand I still am.

    The room, courtesy of Evelyn’s credit card, was also bigger than their apartment. The bathroom itself was a thing of wonder, with a tub big enough to swim in, and a shower that featured more jets than she knew what to do with. For a second I thought it was a carwash.

    The opulence of it all left her a bit torn. She had indulged in luxury as a hunter, even within the halls of this very hotel, but this went beyond the pale. What counted as luxury in the Roaring Twenties had been relegated to bargain basement accommodations today. This seems a bit much. Still, I probably won’t complain after getting a good night’s sleep in that bed…

    Not even Zeus had a temple like this,” Silver said.

    Picture focused on a shower of white marble tile. Shower assembly features multiple water heads, including a detachable source and an overhead rainfall. Image by Curtis Adams from Pexels.

    Disclaimer: This excerpt from The Van Helsing Impetus is currently in development. There may be typos, errors, omissions, inconsistencies and so forth. The image is sourced from Pexels.


  • The Van Helsing Impetus – Excerpt No. 288

    She booked a suite at the iconic Château-style hotel that overlooked the old city. Clara appreciated how this city held on to its rich history. This remained the only walled city on the continent, and several buildings who survived Wolfe’s onslaught were still standing.

    Of course the scars had been covered up with stone and mortar, while the blood had washed away long ago. History had been made at the cost of many lives. A part of her sensed there were many ghosts haunting this city, but was not about to give into Ethereal’s urges. 

    You don’t seem to have any trouble abusing my sister’s magic,” Ethereal countered.

    Picture of the Quebec City skyline taking at night from the water. Features Chateau Frontenac prominently above the palisades.

    Disclaimer: This excerpt from The Van Helsing Impetus is currently in development. There may be typos, errors, omissions, inconsistencies and so forth.


  • The Van Helsing Impetus – Excerpt No. 287

    That morning, Clara woke up with a fresh dose of guilt. Once more she had betrayed Elizabeth, the woman she supposedly loved, for another quick release. Whatever bond she had formed with Dora over the course of the evening, they both knew this would be a one-night stand. 

    At least, it was more entertaining than watching you rub one off before bed,” Ethereal said.

    Clara slipped out of bed quietly, got dressed, and vanished from Dora’s life.

    Picture of a woman holding a phone against her ear, eyes closed, mouth open, other hand appears to be busy between her legs.

    Disclaimer: This excerpt from The Van Helsing Impetus is currently in development. There may be typos, errors, omissions, inconsistencies and so forth.


  • The Van Helsing Impetus – Excerpt No. 286

    “What are you doing after this?” Clara asked, her voice quivering slightly from a lack of emotional control.

    “I had nothing planned…” Dora said.

    That last word hung in the air and left Clara hopeful there was interest in moving forward.

    “How about dinner and drinks? Nothing better than the company of a great gal to explore the city.” Clara said.

    “I’d be up for that,” Dora said. “Are you looking for something wild or—”

    “Intimate,” Clara answered.

    “—more intimate,” Dora finished.

    They both smiled, excited they had the answer they wanted.

    Picture of two women holding their hands, face to face and smiling, looking as though they might kiss. Image by RODNAE Productions from Pexels.

    Disclaimer: This excerpt from The Van Helsing Impetus is currently in development. There may be typos, errors, omissions, inconsistencies and so forth. The image is sourced from Pexels.


  • The Van Helsing Impetus – Excerpt No. 285

    “I really appreciate all your help today,” Clara said. “Do you need any help to carry these back?”

    “That’s thoughtful of you,” the librarian said. “Take that pile over there and follow me.”

    “Happy to do it,” Clara said. “I’m Clara.”

    “Dora,” the librarian answered.That name made her smile, for reasons that she would never say aloud. A dumb Dora this gal was not. This was another expression that routinely confused anyone she came across, save Evelyn.

    Brunette with wild hair an a dirt face, looking as though something blew up in her face. Holds two vials of liquids which are likely not to react well when mixed.

    Disclaimer: This excerpt from The Van Helsing Impetus is currently in development. There may be typos, errors, omissions, inconsistencies and so forth.


  • The Van Helsing Impetus – Excerpt No. 284

    The woman approached and focused on the screen. There was no sign of recognition in those eyes, which was not surprising given how much time had passed.

    “Let me get that for you,” Clara said.

    The print was too small to make out, so Clara reached for the controls. The librarian must have had the same idea, and their hands touched. They remained like that for several heartbeats, before making eye contact, blushing, and pulling away.

    “Oh… go ahead,” the librarian said. “I’m sure you’ve had plenty of practice today.”

    Clara’s eyes twinkled, and she winked. It had been a while since she last felt the gentle touch of another, even if it was accidental. She zoomed in and panned for a view of the article’s text.

    Picture of two hands touching. The one on the left is more masculine, no nail colour, and a formal jacket sleeve. One on right is feminine with a long sleeved blouse, wedding ring and coloured nails. Image by Nikolina from Pexels.

    Disclaimer: This excerpt from The Van Helsing Impetus is currently in development. There may be typos, errors, omissions, inconsistencies and so forth. The image is sourced from Pexels.


  • The Van Helsing Impetus – Excerpt No. 283

    She was thankful for the librarian being so accommodating. This was the last reel that contained records from that time frame, and there was enough time to run through… assuming no more screw-ups. Otherwise, she would need to come back in the morning… or break in.

    “Thank you,” Clara said. “You’ve been the cat’s meow.”

    Clara swivelled back towards the reader and missed the librarian’s reaction upon hearing that expression. As confusion faded from those features, the woman carted away some of the research material.

    Meanwhile, Clara brushed against the knob just enough to move her forward an edition. Eventually, she came across a front page featuring the picture of a burning building, with a headline that read: MYSTERIOUS EXPLOSION AT THE CUSTOMS BUILDING.

    Picture of a calico kitten meowing. Stands on a brown felt surface, and appears to be surrounded by plant life. Image by Viviane M. from Pixabay.

    Disclaimer: This excerpt from The Van Helsing Impetus is currently in development. There may be typos, errors, omissions, inconsistencies and so forth. The image is sourced from Pixabay.


  • The Van Helsing Impetus – Excerpt No. 282

    “Did you find what you’re looking for?” The librarian asked.

    She took her hands off the controls and swivelled her chair in place. The features on the librarian’s face were strained, and those eyes were half-shut. Worst, there was nothing left of that beautiful smile she had on when Clara walked into the library.

    Once the middle-aged woman realised that Clara was no better off, a faint imprint of that smile returned to those lips. At least I’m getting sympathy for what I’m putting myself through

    “None so far,” Clara said. “How long do I have?”

    “I can give you another twenty minutes,” the librarian said. “I’ll save us some time by taking the rest of the microfilm back to the archives.”

    Picture of someone with long hair, slumped over a covered in open books as though taking a nap. Image by Andrea Piacquadio from Pexels.

    Disclaimer: This excerpt from The Van Helsing Impetus is currently in development. There may be typos, errors, omissions, inconsistencies and so forth. The image is sourced from Pexels.


  • The Van Helsing Impetus – Excerpt No. 281

    A hundred years ago, she had been greeted by rusty sands and endless farmland. While the iconic red soil remained, the farmland had retreated from the shore. It was startling for her to come face-to-face with so many changes. 

    She was tempted to head straight to that cathedral they were building when she first made landfall. However, the Tower would have moved the gateway many times since then. It was time to play it smart, do some research, and save herself the aggravation of chasing shadows.

    We have a pool going on how badly you’ll botch this,” Ethereal chimed.

    The odds aren’t good!” Sparky said with a giggle.

    Winner gets to annoy you for the rest of the week,” Silver said.

    Picture of a lighthouse with a house attached sitting on a peninsula. The iconic red shores of the region are visible.

    Disclaimer: This excerpt from The Van Helsing Impetus is currently in development. There may be typos, errors, omissions, inconsistencies and so forth.


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