Tag: Excerpt

  • The Van Helsing Impetus – Excerpt No. 265

    Clara was back at the hotel room. In her days as a hunter, she had often been a guest of the best hotels money could buy. Vampires rarely toiled in the trenches, since they viewed themselves as being above humanity. To find her prey, Clara needed to hide in plain sight, offering herself up as a delectable meal… I made sure they got a severe case of indigestion.

    A hunter’s life had its share of perks, including hotels, luxury train compartments, instantaneous travel to major destinations, and the outfits. Clara’s one passion was keeping up with the latest fashions and the Roaring Twenties had been a treat for her. It helped that she had the youth, beauty, and the body type to sell the style… not to mention the attitude.

    These days she wore plain clothes, work boots, and stayed at run-of-the-mill places. There was nothing extravagant in what she did, nor did she indulge. Now she was simply…

    “Practical and boring,” Clara said before letting out all the air out of her lungs.

    Picture focused on a motel at night, the neon sign lighting up the area.  Image by StockSnap 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. 264

    “Sister Maria passed willingly through the veil,” Eleanor said.

    “You mean the pale woman with stern features, about yay high and a voice that strikes fear into the heart of children?” Clara confirmed.

    Eleanor nodded before adding, “The one who died violently on the grounds?”

    “How can you even tell them—” Clara asked before realising it was best to avoid this rabbit hole. “While I don’t remember it that way, that’s the one.”

    “She went up the staircase,” Eleanor said.

    “Have you ever known a soul to return?” Clara asked.

    That question was pertinent, even if she personally knew of a few examples. Still, she suspected Eleanor would provide a cryptic response.

    “Moreso of late,” the Eleanor said. “However, I cannot sense their presence if they return.”

    Picture of a woman licking a large knife from the non-cutting edge. Appears to be wearing a nun's habit, but could also be a hijab based on Pexels description. Image by Ivan Babydov 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. 263

    “This was Ada’s husband?” Clara confirmed.

    “It was,” Eleanor said.

    Clara took the answer as being a clue. She noted the headstone was similar to Ada’s in appearance and similarly aged. Her husband died over a year before Ada passed. What? Pregnancies don’t last that long

    Several questions swirled around her head until one coalesced.

    “Who paid for the tombstones?” Clara asked.

    “Who indeed,” the Eleanor of the South replied.

    “Did you take them to their final destinations?” Clara asked.

    On a hunch she aligned herself so that the east and west versions of Eleanor were on either side of her. This is starting to feel like a game.

    “He came willingly,” Eleanor of the East said.

    Picture of a pregnant woman in what appears to be an antique shop. Image by Vidallari 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. 262

    “So, are you alone?” Clara asked.

    “What do you mean?” Eleanor asked.

    “I never met anyone else who guides souls,” Clara stated. “Are you the only one?”

    Clara stopped by the second to last grave marker just as three additional copies of Eleanor appeared. She was not sure if their alignment was purposeful, there was one at every cardinal point. This just got interesting.

    “Just I,” Eleanor said in unison.

    “That’s daunting,” Clara said.

    Pictured focused on a mirror located in the middle of a field, reflected is the picture of two black cloaked individuals, presumably Death.Image by Alex Sever 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. 261

    “Are you saying that I can summon you?” Clara asked.

    “Not precisely,” Eleanor said. “I believe nudge is an apt description.”

    “Here I was, hoping that you’d invite me to a girl’s night out,” Clara quipped.

    “No need. There’s always a free table when I enter a room,” Eleanor said before chuckling.

    A humorous reply was not what she expected from an angel of death. While the delivery fell flat, Clara appreciated the effort.

    “As long as I don’t mind stepping over a body or two?” Clara asked.“Or there being no live entertainment,” Eleanor shot back.

    Picture of three female zombies, with white eyes, blood smeared faces and skin. White dresses are marred with blood as well. Image by SvenKirsch 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. 260

    “You didn’t come to critique my power?” Clara asked.

    “I suppose not,” Eleanor replied. “I was compelled here.”

    “You have a soul to collect?” Clara confirmed.

    “None for tonight,” Eleanor said while following Clara’s wake.

    “You’re here because of me?” Clara questioned, unsure on how to take such an answer. Keep it together Clara, she’s not a threat.

    She avoided asking the question on how an agent of death had such a light schedule. Some things are better left unanswered.

    Picture of a woman wearing a long and flowing white dress and long back hair concealed by thick fog. Face is concealed and may be holding a sword.

    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. 259

    The sound was faint but persistent. It was as though someone was sweeping a floor, first in one direction and then the other. It was also rhythmic, subtle, and knew that no one else was aware of it. That’s the ocean above our heads. Some of them would panic if they knew.

    Above those beams, there were layers of coal, rock, dirt, and mud. Right above their heads the Atlantic ocean reigned supreme, with the waters dancing over the sea floor.

    While Papa never mentioned it, they knew that one false move or failure of the pumps would send the waters rushing in. It wouldn’t matter if they could swim.

    Picture of a coal mine shaft, featuring support beams, a dark and wet environment, and a few lights to shine the way.

    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. 258

    Those were your parents?” Silver asked. “No wonder you turned out ugly!”

    “Octavius and Theresa Grey,” Clara whispered.

    This shot had been taken well before Clara came into the picture. They looked so happy and full of life, because they were at the genesis of their journey together. Whereas Clara had known her parents nearer to their deaths. They met their bitter end a little over twenty years after this picture was taken.

    “They lived longer than I did,” Clara said, while blinking repeatedly. 

    Picture of a woman hugging a man from behind, seemingly happy doing so. Image by Cottonbro on 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. 257

    When a nor’easter was on the horizon, they had to nail shut the shutters along with the screen door. The house would creak and haw as the wind howled.

    A cold drought always found a way to get through the walls, which reminded her of being outside on  a cool spring day. On stormy nights, the cold wind blew through the chimney and prevented them from lighting a fire. Ada and Maria had to take turns keeping the fire going all night.

    Clara gasped after spotting something at the back of their home. The rough wooden construction, slanted roof and crescent moon carved out of the door was all she needed.

    “That’s where papa died from black lung—” Clara whispered before choking on her words. “My god… I almost forgot.”

    Picture of an outhouse in the woods, the wooden plans have faded from the sun, there's a pump on the side to wash, a moon cut into the door, and its lit from the inside.

    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. 256

    “There it is,” Clara whispered.

    The man standing beside her gave her an inquisitive glance but quickly returned his focus on their tour guide. Clara was not interested in this portion of the tour or even the rest of this museum. The angel was not about to lose the opportunity to look upon the details of her childhood home. It’s the only home I ever lived in.

    Well it was not her actual home, since the physical house had been condemned and torn down decades ago. This was a black-and-white picture of their home, housed within the local miners museum.

    Picture of a run down single level home seen from down a lane in a wooded area. Image by Dids on 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.


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