A New Threat

chapter 14: Troubled Hearts
Kurt walked into the Church as he had done every day for the last several weeks.  His mind was troubled by all the recent happenings and he felt he needed to go to confession.  He stepped into the confessional box and awaited the priest.  After several long minutes, Kurt heard the door open as the priest stepped inside the confessional box. 

“Bless me, Father, for I have sinned,” Kurt said through the mess partition.

“How long has it been since your last confession, my son?”

“Two years, Father.”

“Tell me your sins.”

“I am responsible for the trouble my friends are in.  I could have stopped what has happened to them.”

The priest took in a deep breath before continuing.

“Explain to me this trouble.”

“They have been taken by an evil force.  I knew he was there at the party and I say nothing.”

Kurt began to tell a brief reciting of what had happened.

“Your only sin was your silence – if you can even call it a sin.  My son, we are not perfect and we make mistakes.”

“But, my friends are made to do evil now.”

Outside the confessional box, Gabriel was passing by when he heard Kurt’s troubled voice.  Gabriel had gone to the Church to pray for the strength he knew he would need to fight Dracula.  He decided to wait for Kurt to finish so he could speak with him.

“My son, I am sure God will forgive you.  If you desire penance, then say three Hail Mary’s and five Our Father’s and go in peace.”

Kurt thanked the priest and walked outside to the first pew.  He knelt down clutching his rosary and began reciting his prayers of penance.  Gabriel slid into the pew near Kurt.

“I knew you were a God-fearing man,” Gabriel said as he looked at Kurt’s face.  “Angelic symbols,” he said in reference to the tattoos Kurt had given himself over the years.  Kurt looked up into Gabriel’s eyes.

“I have been a sinful man and now my friends are in trouble.”

“I don’t think you can hold yourself responsible for the actions of Dracula.  Even the priest said so.  Dracula is the embodiment of evil and if we are to defeat him, we cannot look at what could have been.  We must focus on our combined strengths.”

The priest joined them.

“It is an honor to meet you, Mr. Van Helsing,” the priest said to Gabriel.

“Guess my reputation precedes me,” he replied while shaking hands.

“Mr. Wagner and I have come to know each other quite well over the last months.  He is a most religious man.  As for you, I had hoped you would come by.  Father Cleo had made me aware of your trek here.”

“Father Cleo is a good friend.”

“He plans to join you in this great battle you face.”

“We do have a serious battle facing us.  The creature has taken control of the souls of two of Kurt’s friends, as he has told you.  I need a way to defeat this beast – to send him back to Hell – and not to lose the souls he has claimed.”

“I wish I knew how to assist you.  This creature is using the pains of this world to his advantage.  He is creating a bigger separation between humans and mutants, as well as dividing the mutant community itself.”

“He has chosen those who can offer him the best advantages.”

“Gabriel, I beg you to not fight alone.  Please come back and let all of us do battle together,” Kurt pleaded.

“Agreed.  There is strength in numbers and if we are to defeat Dracula and rescue your friends, then perhaps it would be best if we all fight together.”

“Van Helsing, there is a larger battle to be won here as well – to bring peace between the human and mutant populations.  The human race must be convinced that their fears of mutants should be cast aside,” the priest said.

“Yes, but that is a set of wounds that only time can heal – time and trust and acceptance.  Mankind has never been one to share and mankind hates what it fears.  I think I have learned a few lessons myself,” Gabriel said while looking into Kurt’s eyes.

“We must find a way to bring peace between humans and mutants.  That might be the only way to stop Dracula.  As long as there is anger and hate and division, then he can use that to keep all people from banding together.”


Gabriel decided to return to the mansion with Kurt.  It made sense to work together with the mutants.  He had learned so much about his own feelings towards the mutants – they were not creatures of evil – at least not all of them.  The vast majority were kind caring people with extraordinary gifts.  They had feelings, beliefs, and emotions, strong friendships and loving relationships, and attempted to live in a world that refused to accept them.

Upon their return, they saw Jean in the entranceway to the entertainment room.  Kurt ventured over and peered over her shoulder.  In the room, Logan and his daughter were watching videotape footage of Danielle during the fundraiser prior to her disappearance.  Logan was silent – a beer in hand and a distant and almost catatonic look in his glazed eyes.

“What is wrong?” Gabriel asked.

“Logan’s very upset.  He’s been here all morning with Jean Marie.”

Gabriel observed the large collection of beer bottles strewn all around the floor.

“Dear God, that’s not a good thing for a child to see,” he said.

“I know. He just started with the beer.  I was hoping to stop him without starting a commotion and upset the Professor.  He would certainly scold Logan for this,” Jean whispered.

“Looks like he’s downed quite a few bottles,” Gabriel noted.

“His healing factor won’t allow him to stay intoxicated for long.”

“That amount of booze would have me on my face for a week,” Gabriel replied.

“Why don’t I take Jean Marie and you can talk to him,” Kurt suggested.

“That’s a good idea.  We need to get him cleaned up before the Professor sees this,” Jean said.  “I just pray Logan hasn’t been projecting his emotions too much or we’ll never hide this.  Scott’s already been trying to keep the Professor busy while I work on Logan.”

Kurt cautiously entered the room.  As he approached, Logan looked up.  He had already heard the conversation and smelled the scent of the onlookers.  He knew the Professor would toss him out on his backside for getting so drunk – regardless of the pain he was in.  As Kurt bent over to collect the youngster, his eyes met Wolverine’s.  Kurt’s heart began to break as he saw the sadness that had consumed Logan’s heart.  Jean Marie wrapped her arms around Kurt’s neck as she turned her head to look down upon her father.

“Do you want anything?” Kurt took a chance in asking.

Logan glared into Kurt’s eyes.  Kurt rested his hand on Logan’s shoulder.

“It’s going to be ok,” he said trying to comfort the Wolverine.

“Get outta here,” Logan ordered as he grabbed the last bottle of beer that was sitting by his side.

Kurt slowly left as Logan lifted the beer bottle to his lips and downed the rest of the contents.  As he lowered his clenched hand with the bottle down, the impact sounded like a muffled thud on the carpet.  The bottle rolled away when Logan relinquished his grasp and he reached for another bottle.

Gabriel was aware of the Wolverine’s foul temper when he was angry or upset, and he entered the room and sat down on the couch just behind Logan.

“She’s beautiful, ain’t she?” Logan said as he watched the videotape.

Gabriel didn’t reply immediately.  He had never seen Danielle like this – playing music and smiling and singing to a large crowd of onlookers.  He only remembered the woman who lost her baby and had regressed into a terrified animal – a woman he chased and provoked into the fight that might have cost her the life of her unborn child.  Guilt welled up in Gabriel’s heart and intensified as he watched her on the videotape.

“I don’t blame you,” Logan said with a hard raspy voice. 

“For what?”

“For falling in love with her.  She’s a really special woman.”

“I know.”

The video continued to show Danielle as she stood cheering the crowd at the end of the show and then beckoning Logan and Jean Marie out on stage.  Logan smiled as he watched Danielle hugging him and their daughter.  Then the images showed them with their friends – Jean, Scott, Rogue, Bobby, John, and special guest Hank Jackson and his family.  Then, there was Storm.  Logan got up and walked to the wall pounding his fist on it.

“Son of a bitch has ‘em both – my woman, and my friend.”

Gabriel jumped up and crossed the room to stand by Logan’s side.

“I know you’re hurting.  But, you gotta get a grip on yourself.”

“You can’t begin to know the hurt I feel – or the world of hurt I’m gonna give that bastard for taking them – for taking her.”

Gabriel grabbed Logan’s shoulder.

“Then, use this love you have for Danielle, and Storm, as strength to win this war.”

Logan looked into Gabriel’s eyes as his brow furrowed in anger.

“I swear that we will get them back – I swear on my last dying breath that we will defeat Dracula and bring them home.”

Gabriel offered his hand to Logan and after a moment of hesitation, Logan accepted and they shook hands as a gesture of brotherhood.