The moon shone over the waters of the Atlantic Ocean. A warm breeze caressed his face. It was a night made for lovers.

Ron Talbot grimaced. He had no place for romance in his life- not now. "Vonnie," he whispered to the woman at his side, "are you sure this is a good idea?"

"Trust me, Ron," Veronica Winters whispered in her soft voice. She took one of his hands in her own and squeezed it. "I've brought you this far, haven't I?"

Ron smiled at the woman. "Yes you have. You've been a good friend, Vonnie. I appreciate everything you've done for me."

Vonnie smiled back at him. She was slender and pale, with owl-frame glasses. She was not beautiful, but there was something arresting about her features. Like Ron, she was twenty-one years old, but she could have easily passed for a very young teenager. "I'll do whatever I can for you, Ron. You know that."

Talbot squeezed her hand. "I know." I like Vonnie, but I don't have the right to get involved now- even if she did literally fall into my lap.

Ron Talbot did not believe in luck, but he couldn't deny that meeting Veronica Winters had been one of the most fortunate moments in his life. If he had not met her that night in the library at Triad University- if she had not stumbled and fallen onto him- then he might never had this hope- however slight- of a cure.

She gave him hope- and he both feared and distrusted hope.

Talbot restlessly strode back and forth on the dock. "How much longer do you think he'll be?"

"I don't know. The letter said Dr. Alucard was expecting other guests- maybe he's waiting for them to arrive."

"He would have to live on an island, wouldn't he?" Ron snarled.

"Terrill Island," Vonnie said. "What do you have against an island?"

"Ever read 'The Most Dangerous Game'?" Ron Talbot asked by way of reply. "How do we know he's not some kind of kook who'll do God knows what to us once we set foot on his island?"

"That's not exactly likely, is it?" Vonnie said in amusement. "Look, I called- everyone knows where we've gone. You don't have anything to worry about."

Ron sighed. "Sorry." He gestured at the moon. "I seem to get more . . . irritable this time of the month."

"How interesting," someone said, "that's normally a woman's excuse."

Talbot spun on his feet- he was surprisingly agile for a man of his stocky build- and said, "Who's there?"

"Just me. Us." A woman walked out of the shadows- a tall, aristocratic woman in her thirties. Her hair was as black as midnight, and her clothing was not much lighter. Everything about her screamed money and privilege- her clothing, her jewelry, and the way she spoke. "I am Doctor Elizabeth Franklin. This is my . . . servant, Adam. Adam, please, introduce yourself."

Adam walked out of the darkness. He was a tall man- at least seven feet tall- clad in a gray business suit. His face was long and serious and slightly jaundiced. He carried suitcases in his arms- large, bulky luggage, which he carried as though it weighed nothing at all. He looked down at Ron Talbot and Veronica Winters with cold, dead eyes.

"Hello, Adam," Vonnie said nervously.

"Charmed," Ron said. He's strong, but he moves like molasses in winter. Best way to take down would be to go for his knees, hamstring him . . . He blinked. Why the hell did I just think that?

"Adam," Dr. Franklin warned.

Adam grunted.

"Do you know our host?" Ron asked the doctor.

Doctor Franklin paused. "I believe that he's an old friend of the family. I've never met him myself. He wrote me saying that he's come across a . . . family heirloom . . . that he wants to return to me."

"Couldn't he have just mailed it?" Ron asked.

"I'm afraid that it's rather large to ship by UPS," Dr. Franklin replied. She had a definite look of amusement on her face. "If I might ask, who are you?"

Talbot and Vonnie introduced themselves.

"Indeed?" Dr. Franklin said when she heard Talbot's name. "How every interesting."

"Why?"

"I believe that I may have come across some mention of a relative of yours in my father's records. Do you know of a Lawrence Talbot, by any chance?"

Talbot shrugged. "No, but that doesn't mean anything. My dad died when I was very young and my mother didn't know any of his relatives." He spoke the words in short, clipped tones; he never liked to talk about his father. I just hope to God that- whatever's wrong with me- isn't what Dad had. I don't want to wind up like him . . .

Adam grunted and pointed at the ocean.

A boat appeared on the horizon. A black boat with red lights like blood. It moved swiftly, but silently. It was almost alive.

"The dead travel swiftly," Dr. Franklin whispered for no reason.

The boat docked within a matter of minutes. A woman expertly threw a rope around a dock pole. She wore a dark scuba outfit. Her hair was dark, but streaked with white. She moved oddly, almost mechanically.

Adam gasped when he saw her.

"Could it be?" Elizabeth Franklin asked softly.

I don't like this, Ron Talbot decided. I don't like this at all.

The woman- when she spoke- had a slight but definite English accent. "I am Elsa," she announced. "The Doctor sent me. If you are ready, we can leave immediately."

Adam looked at Elizabeth Franklin. There was a question in his dark eyes.

"Go on, Adam," Doctor Franklin said. "We'll see this through."

Grunting, Adam walked towards the boat- and Elsa.

Dr. Alucard's assistant drew back as Adam came near her. She hissed like a cat.

"Some things never change," Doctor Franklin murmured.

"Vonnie, I don't think you should come with me," Ron Talbot whispered. "I don't like any of this- but I have to check this out. You don't, though. Stay here, where's it's safe. I'll call you as soon as I can."

"I'm going with you," Vonnie told him. "Deal with it, Ron."

He hadn't known her long, but Ron Talbot knew that tone of voice. There was no point in arguing with her now. All he could do was try to keep her from harm.

He picked up what little luggage they had and walked over to the boat. Adam took the luggage from him and placed it with the Doctor's.

"Thanks," Ron said, smiling at the giant.

The yellow giant blinked in surprise, then smiled.

Ron helped Vonnie onto the boat. As Vonnie checked over their luggage, he leaned towards Elsa. He gestured at Adam. "Old friend of yours?"

Elsa looked at him oddly- she had the same cold eyes as Adam- and shrugged. "I met him once- a long time ago."

"So what's Terrill Island like?"

Elsa shrugged as she started the engine and turned the boat back to sea. "It's an island." She hesitated. "It has another name around here."

"What's that?"

"Terror Island."

Ron Talbot sighed. "Oh, yeah. This is definitely a good idea."