Eliska opened her eyes. The room was dark. She waited for her eyes to adjust to the little amount of light in the room. She stood up and took in her surroundings. She was in the castle. She hugged her arms around herself as she walked. The vampires had left her alive. She looked up at the ceiling as she walked. Her feet hit something causing her to trip and fall. She turned to see what was obstructing her path and gasped. It was the man she'd tried to save. She slid away from the prone body and leaned against a pillar. She closed her eyes and whispered a quest prayer for him.

"He was pretty," said a voice. "And delicious."

The women cackled as they walked down the side of the pillar. Eliska gasped as she stood, backing away from them. Her retreat was halted when she ran into another person. She turned around to be face to face with Daniela.

"No…no…it cannot be," said Eliska taking in her friend's appearance. "Daniela, no."

"She is pretty, too," said Veronika.

"Yes she is," said Gabriella circling Eliska. "Very pretty."

Veronika stepped in front of Eliska, clocking her view of Daniela. Veronika smiled a wicked smile as she leaned forward. "Don't worry, she is happy with us. Isn't that right, Daniela."

Daniela looked at the dark haired woman. She smiled after a moment, "Very much so."

"Dani, why?" asked Eliska.

"Because! I'm not in your shadow anymore!" shouted Daniela. "It's always been "Eliska and her friend." No one can compare to you! At least now they will know who I am and what I am capable of!"

"I…I didn't know," said Eliska.

"How could you! You spend more time in that decrepit house than anywhere else! And if you weren't there you were surrounded by men vying for your attention!" shouted Daniela

The two brides were enjoying the show. They were giddy with excitement.

"I'm sorry," whispered Eliska.

"Your "sorry" is too late," said Daniela. "This is my home and life now."

Daniela circled Eliska and joined the other two women. Eliska wiped away a few tears that were rolling down her face. She'd lost her best friend to the devil.

"And who is this beautiful woman?" asked Dracula appearing behind Eliska. "So beautiful," he said running a hand across her cheek.

Eliska jerked away from his touch. He circled around her once before he stopped.

"What is your name?" he asked.

Eliska stayed quiet.

"A quiet one," he said. "My darling Daniela, what is her name?"

"Eliska Devonshire," she replied.

"Eliska, such a pretty name," he said advancing on her.

Eliska backed away from him. Unfortunately that out her directly in front of the brides. They reached out for her causing her to run into Dracula's chest. He wrapped his arms around her and held her tight. She struggled but couldn't break free.

"Calm down my little Eliska," he said.

"I am not yours!" she said still struggling.

"Not now you are not," he chuckled.

"I will never be yours! He's going to kill you!" she shouted.

"Who is that?" he asked.

"Van Helsing!" she shouted.

"Van Helsing? He's come back?" said Dracula. "Good. Very good. Take her to my castle. I think we need to pay a visit to an old friend."

Dracula transformed and flew out an open window. Veronika grabbed Eliska's arm. Eliska yanked her necklace off and held the cross up. The three women shrank away from her. Eliska ran from the castle as fast as she could. She wouldn't be able to out run them if they gave chase, but she had to try. Dawn was approaching, she would be safe soon. Hopefully.


The whole town was in an uproar. Two people had been taken. Ksenia was in tears over Eliska while the other family cried over Gustav being taken.

"What happened?" asked van Helsing.

"They sang," said Eliska walking into the circle that had formed. "They sang and he walked right out of his house. He walked right to his death."

"You're alive!" shouted Ksenia. "What about Daniela?"

"I…I don't know. I didn't see her," she lied. She didn't have the heart to tell them that Daniela was the third bride.

Van Helsing gave her a knowing look. He knew Daniela was the third bride and Eliska had cemented that thought. "Go back to your everyday doings. I'm going after him today," he said.

The crowd slowly dispersed. Eliska stayed in her spot watching van Helsing. He eyed her before he walked over to her.

"How did you survive?"

"Faith," she said holding up her necklace.

"We will have to kill her," he said.

"I know," she said wiping away a stray tear. "I know."

Van Helsing nodded his head. He grabbed his crossbow and silver stake. Eliska turned to leave, that was when she heard it. The cackling echoed through the town. The villagers scattered as they disappeared into home and other buildings. Eliska circled 'round looking to the sky. She saw all three brides.

"Eliska, get inside!" shouted van Helsing.

She ignored him and stood on the platform looking to the sky. All three women circled Eliska and van Helsing. Daniela was the first to land. She smiled at them.

"So handsome," she said.

Van Helsing raised his crossbow and pulled the trigger. Eliska shouted and jumped in front of Daniela. The arrow pierced her shoulder. Daniela cackled as she took to the sky again. Van Helsing turned his attention to Eliska when the women disappeared.

"What the hell is wrong with you?" he shouted.

"She is still my friend!" shouted Eliska.

"No she isn't!" he shouted. "What is with your family and holding onto other people's humanity! She is gone! That Daniela is not you friend. That Daniela is a monster of the devil and will die!"

"Dani is a bride?" asked an older woman. "Ellie, is it true?"

"Yes, it is," she said hanging her head.

The woman let out a cry. A few men helped her away while van Helsing tended to Eliska's wound.

"You can only save her by killing her," he said.

"I know," she said. "She hates me anyway."

"Why?" asked Carl.

"I'm the daughter of Velkan Valerious," she said. "Daniela always took a back seat to me because of that and I never knew."

"I didn't know he had a child," said Carl.

"He didn't either. Mama never told him," said Eliska. "After he died she thought best not to tell anyone. But they found out soon enough."

"Right. Now what do we do?" asked Carl.

"He knows you are here," she said.

Van Helsing nodded. "Come on, you're going to help."

"What?" said Carl. "She can't. She will get killed."

"No more than you will," said Eliska walking up the hill.