"I mean it Bon, I'm not going unless you're with me. So let's go rescue the damn mother of darkness so we can get out of here." Damon bit out as his nostrils flared in frustration.

His stubborn little witch. His fun-sized chronic do-gooder. She'd found yet another mess to plunge headlong into. And Damon got the sinking sensation this one was the mother of all clusterfucks. Which meant that someone had to be around to save Bonster from her worst enemy- herself.

Bonnie snagged her bottom lip between her teeth to keep from grinning at Damon's acquiescence. She'd probably poked the bear enough for one day.

"Ok," she said simply with a sharp nod.

"Thank goodness that's settled." Bonnie and Damon turned towards the outrageously cheerful voice coming from the doorway.

Dashing. It was the only word that came to Bonnie's mind. That's surely how Jane Austen would have described the room's newest occupant.

Of course he was tall and broad shouldered. Thick, curling auburn hair. A strong, square jawline which complimented his straight nose and firm, berry lips. Deep set stormy blue eyes that swept over Bonnie in a warm and appreciative gaze.

"Forgive my rudeness in eavesdropping on your conversation. I was intrigued from the moment you breezed by me in the foyer," the young man continued on, his lips tilted in an unrepentant grin.

"I am Dr. Van Helsing. Bram Van Helsing." He extended his hand to the little witch. "We've all been most anxious for your arrival, Miss?"

"None of your concern." Damon bit out as he inserted himself between Bonnie and Van Helsing. He gripped the man's outstretched hand a little too tightly. The young man seemed more amused than offended. His eyes crinkled at the corners as his smile widened.

"I must beg to differ sir, it was no small feat to bring her here. Favors called in, many a crown crossed palms." He waved his hand airily. Bonnie couldn't help but be amused. Her eyes met Van Helsing's and he gave her a cheeky wink.

Van Helsing found himself utterly enchanted by the diminutive young woman. Her vibrant green eyes, warm brown skin. And those lips. Plump and bow shaped, they

"Send us the bill," Damon gritted out. "Still let's be clear. She. Is. None. Of. Your. Concern."

"Ah, Van Helsing, you're here finally.' Sir Malcom called out from the doorway. Van Helsing tore his gaze away from the beautiful woman to acknowledge him.

"Forgive my absence Sir Malcolm, I was following up on a line of inquiry." He explained as he shook the older man's hand.

"Have you news?" Sir Malcom asked, clearly anxious for any information concerning Miss Ives.

"Regrettably, I do not." Van Helsing replied, the regret and frustration clear in his tone. "Miss Ives's—enthraller has proven to be quite elusive." Sir Malcolm looked devastated as he turned to Bonnie with a sorrowful smile.

"Your arrival is timely. If we're to have any chance to locate Miss Ives, to rescue her, we are in desperate need of your help." Van Helsing nodded in agreement.

"Even the powers of your companion will prove useful." He said as he nodded towards Damon.

"I have some knowledge of the occult," he replied to her unspoken question and raised brow. "Such afflicted creatures are not unfamiliar to me."

"Afflicted…creature?" Damon barked, eyes blazed with indignation. He looked ready to vamp out. Bonnie prepared to keep Damon from snapping the handsome doctor's neck.

Van Helsing held a large hand up in a placating gesture. "I meant no offense. I only wished to point out your…nature could prove most advantageous in this endeavor."

"Whatever." Damon snapped before walking off in a snit. Bonnie rolled her eyes even as she smiled at his nonsense. It was so hard on him not to be the snarkiest person in the room.

"By the cross, he's a sensitive soul" Van Helsing mused aloud.

"You have no idea," Bonnie murmured as she listened to Damon slam his way out of the house. She shook her head at his antics even as she turned to regard his antagonizer. Up close and unimpeded, she could see devastatingly long lashes and the tiniest hint of a dimpled chin. The man was totally swoon worthy.

He smiled widely at her, pleased that she seemed as taken with him as he was with her. He had just entered the house when

"Bonnie," she whispered breathlessly as she extended her hand to him.

"You are indeed," Van Helsing replied as his lips brushed against her hand.

Sir Malcolm discreetly cleared his throat, drawing the couple's attention back to more pressing matters. After so much tragedy in the past few years, he would not begrudge anyone happiness, however fleeting. But even now the urgency and importance of finding Vanessa weighed heavily on him. He had already lost one daughter to neglect, he would not allow fate to take the other.

"Ms. Bennett, you mentioned it may be possible to locate Miss Ives if you were in possession of something which belonged to her. There are articles I'm sure that would be of use in her room."

"Yes, of course, sorry." Bonnie replied as she yanked her hand from Van Helsing's warm palm. She didn't risk looking up at him again because she was afraid of being distracted again. "Show me please."

Miss Ives's room was located at the end of a long hall in the east wing of the house. From the moment Bonnie cleared the top of the stairs, she felt energy seething from the space. It was old, sinister and subtle. She would go so far as to say it was dormant, or had been at least. But she could feel its tendrils reaching out, assessing the group that had invaded its space.

Sir Malcolm seemed completely unaware of the danger as he began to walk towards the door of Miss Ives's bedroom. It was Van Helsing who stopped abruptly and barred anyone from walking further down the hall.

"Sir Malcolm, we need Kaetenay. Urgently." He said as he guided the older man back down the stairs. He turned back to Bonnie, his tone low and commanding. "Do not venture further into the hallway until our return."

"Bring Ethan as well." Bonnie replied, her tone equally brusque. With a sharp nod, the doctor and Sir Malcolm quickly made their way down the stairs.

Bonnie could feel the ghost of a touch against her mind. Cold and creeping, it probed the mental barrier she had erected from the moment she had entered the house. There was no doubt of its intentions. It was looking for weakness to exploit, anything to cling to.

"Why are you standing in the middle of the hallway by yourself Bon?" Damon asked, confusion etched in his features. She sent him flying, using her magic to fling him down the steps. She could hear the exclamations and heavy steps of the others on the staircase. She quickly dropped to her hands and knees, the words from the incantation firing out her mouth like bullets.

It was how Kaetenay, Van Helsing and Ethan found her moments later. Her voice was high-pitched, musical as she uttered words in a language foreign to nearly everyone present.

Kaetenay stretched forth his hands and began to speak words in his own tongue. Van Helsing rushed forward, his voice deep and commanding as he knelt at Bonnie's side.

As quickly as it had begun, Bonnie ceased her incantation. Her breathing sounded harsh and loud in the sudden quiet of the hallway.

"It's gone now." She panted out as she rested on her heels. "Probably back to its master."

Van Helsing cupped her elbow. "Are you hurt? Why did you not wait for us to return?"

"You'll learn pretty quick that waiting and following directions are foreign concepts to little miss white hat." Damon pointed out dryly. He was leaning against the wall with his arms folded, scowling down at Bonnie.

"You ok?" he asked her despite his irritation at being thrown about like a rag doll.

"Five by five," Bonnie answered. She smiled slightly at the confusion in Van Helsing's eyes. "That's just an expression. I'm fine." Van Helsing nodded as he helped her to her feet.

"I am gratified to hear it, Miss Whitehat. Now would you care to explain what on earth you were doing?" he asked heatedly.