I obviously don't own anything associated with Van Helsing or Stephen Sommer's brain-child in general - although Count Dracula is technically public domain. Oh, the plethora of inappropriate jokes I could make on THAT front.

Forgive any errors I may have missed. I did try to catch them all, but I may have overlooked a few. It happens.

III

10 Years Later

There was a long table in the center of the room, covered with stacks upon stacks of books – some new, many old, and several ancient looking. Every seat at the table was filled with a servant of Count Dracula, each pouring over pages of literature or text as they searched for something – anything – about the mysterious angel their master had encountered a decade ago.

Ever since that fateful evening, when his Valerious-born bride and newborn child had gone missing, the vampire had become desperate to find anything on this new, enigmatic enemy, this woman whom he had never seen or heard of in the span of several lifetimes. For ten long years, they had searched, combing through every book, every novel, and every history in search of her name. Unfortunately, over those ten long years, they had discovered little and their master had long since run out of patience.

Every evening at the same time for at least an hour, the Count would pace furiously in front of the table, watching those in his employ as their tired eyes scanned over text after text – and every evening, he was given the same disappointing report – no news.

The only miniscule piece of relevant information that they had found was that she was this supposed "Angel of the Night" as mentioned in the prophecy – but her occupation or purpose was mostly unknown. Much of her existence was shrouded in mystery, and though the Count could not help but be intrigued, he had grown weary of the otherwise fruitless research.

To make matters worse, his witch, though her curse over the city had been most effective, was still unable to locate this Lailah or Ana or his daughter – if she was indeed still alive.

At long last, Dracula had had enough.

After receiving yet again another worthless report, he released his rage on those studious servants, unleashing a ferocious roar of pent-up frustration. With an unforgiving grip, he took the massive table in his hands while everyone was still seated and he flipped it over violently, the papers and loose pages of the volumes flying about as several chairs – and persons – were smashed from the impact of the table.

He then stalked angrily towards his adjoining study after ordering everyone to clean up and get back to work. Upon entering the private room, with one strong swipe of his arm, the articles on his desk flew to the ground before he smacked his palms on the polished surface, gripping the edge of the desk in an effort to regain his lost composure. He could feel his captain of the guard – Zane – standing in the doorway in obedient silence, awaiting an order – any order. But the Count never gave one. Instead he turned to look at his faithful servant and he sighed most bitterly.

"It's been ten years, Zane," he struggled, leaning against the edge of the desk. "Ten long years, and nothing. Not a word. Not even a single peep."

"Yes, my lord," the solider answered solemnly.

"Sometimes I feel like maybe they escaped after all, like that infuriatingly arrogant bitch of an angel managed to get the upper hand on me. Me."

"But we know she did not, my lord," Zane reminded him. "The angel, Ana, and the werewolf have all been spotted on several occasions. But when we move in to retrieve them for you, they always manage to vanish into thin air."

"This is unacceptable!" the Count snapped, smacking his fist on the desk angrily before walking behind it so he could take a seat.

"We are doing the best we can, your grace."

"Well your best has clearly become not good enough, Zane," Dracula hissed. "I have grown weary of being disappointed again and again and again…" His voice had taken on a dangerous tone as his eyes glowed with unspeakable fury. "We need to find that angel – if we can get to her, we can get to Ana and my daughter."

"I may have a solution, my lord," came the low response of a female in the doorway.

Dracula looked up to find his last remaining bride, Verena, leaning against the frame of the door, dressed in a provocative nightgown and silk robe that was loosely tied around her waist. Her presence soothed his rage dramatically. Few things gave him greater pleasure than Verena – she was his greatest accomplishment. She had been with him since his resurrection in 1890, and though their relationship had always been a complicated one, even when she strayed, she remained fiercely loyal to him. He liked to believe it was because of the hold he had over her, though deep down he knew she had just as powerful of a hold on him as well.

The Count had always assumed that he'd grow tired of her one day, perhaps find another bride as he had in the past, but Verena always managed to surprise him. She was a stunning creature, with dark auburn hair, equally dark eyes that could melt any man or woman, and a figure to rival any goddess. He extended his hand to her, beckoning her to come to him as he glanced over at Zane who was having trouble keeping himself from staring at his master's bride.

"And what news do you have for me, my pet?"

"You know one of your blood-girls, Helena? The pretty redheaded one?" and she took his hand and kissed it devotedly before making her way behind his seat so she could rub his shoulders in an effort to fully pacify him.

"Yes?"

"A little birdy just told me that she's been making contact with a certain woman whom you've been most keen on finding."

"You mean to tell me that that delightful little wench knows how to find that insufferable angel that my witch and captain of the guard seem incapable of locating?" He said this with great sarcasm and the two vampires both looked at Zane who tried his best to hide his humiliation.

"Yes, lover," Verena purred, continuing to rub his shoulders.

"Nicely done. We'll have to extract that valuable information from Helena as soon as possible. Where is she now? Zane, you must fetch her."

"No need for that, my lord," Verena insisted. "The angel has managed to wipe her memory of the exact location after every meeting, and if we go after this Lailah full force and unprepared, it could prove disastrous."

"An excellent point. At least I can be sure that you will never disappoint me," and he patted her hand as she continued to rub the tension out of his shoulders and neck while he glared at Zane. "Verena, my love, is Helena still here?"

"Yes, my lord. I personally saw to it that she was reminded of her place. I left her in the dungeon to contemplate her poor decisions."

"Perhaps we can make the most of those poor decisions," Dracula considered aloud. "Zane? Fetch Helena and bring her here. I would speak with her."

"Yes master," and Zane quickly exited the room to carry out the order, leaving Verena and the Count alone. When Verena was certain the captain of the guard was out of earshot, she moved forward and wrapped her arms about Dracula's neck, leaning against him, her cheek resting against his.

"There is more, my lord."

"Oh?"

"It would appear Helena has been feeding the angel information as well."

"What kind of information?"

"Floor-maps of the palace, any information we may have learned about this Lailah. She also mentioned that the angel is particularly interested in that witch of yours."

"Undoubtedly. She's probably trying to find a way to break the curse. Anything else?"

"I did get some information out of Helena about the angel – not much, but it's more than what we had before."

"What did she tell you?" he asked, taking her hand and leading her over to face him, but she sat on his lap instead.

"Not much, because most of her memories of those visits have been erased from her mind – which tells me that this angel is not only powerful, but intelligent. She doesn't trust anyone."

"Did Helena learn anything that could be of use to us?"

"No, but it made me think – have you contemplated, I mean, would you consider meeting with Lailah in person, if such a meeting could be arranged?"

"I would infinitely prefer to speak to the angel face-to-face than carry on like we have been for the last decade."

"Because if you were to meet with her," Verena continued, "you could gauge what her weaknesses are," and her hand which had been resting on his shoulder began to slide slowly down the front of his chest.

"Go on," he encouraged and she lifted her leg so her knees were on either side of him now, the skirt of her gown hiked up precariously, and his hands smoothed over the flesh of her thighs in a repeated sweeping motion, the caresses gentle and slow.

"And when you find that weakness in her, which you inevitably shall, you could exploit it; make her an offer she cannot refuse." Verena hovered her lips over the Count's as she gripped the back of the seat with her hands and slid up his lap, making certain that his eyes had a proper view of her endowments before rocking her hips against him. "Everyone wants something," she breathed, pleased when she saw the wantonness in his bright blue irises. "This Lailah has been separated from heaven for over ten years now. Surely she'd be willing to negotiate in order to go back to whatever cloud she happened to fall from."

Verena continued to grind against him, her fingers hovering over his mouth as his fangs lengthened in arousal.

"Your thoughtfulness does you credit, my love, but I feel she will not be easily swayed," he managed as his favored bride moved in and kissed his neck.

"Why do you say that, my king?" her voice a deep moan when she felt his hands grab hold of her backside, forcing her to rub harder against him.

"If we were dealing with anyone else, your suggestion would be a viable option. Even the greatest of heaven's archangels have weaknesses. Gabriel had an abundance of them."

"Gabriel? You mean Van Helsing? The hunter from all those years ago?" and she nibbled his ear.

"Yes. All creatures have weakness, pressure points that if struck just right can cause even the strongest of men to crack," and she felt his nails dig into her soft flesh, the little bites of pain exciting her.

"What makes you think this angel is so different? She is only a woman, after all."

"You of all people should know that the female sex is never to be underestimated."

Verena grinned wickedly.

"How true that is, my lord."

Verena's lips were met with a ferocious kiss that soon had her caged on the table, the Count perched over her. His hips pushed demandingly between her legs as his eager hands devoured the well-known territory of her lithe figure. The teasing of earlier rapidly evolved into a mindless copulation as Dracula came to ease himself inside of the accepting flesh of his bride.

The angle and force behind his every thrust was precise and purposeful, to the point where despite her experience, she could not last long beneath him. Within what felt like mere minutes, she was crying out wantonly, the delicious tension between them erupting into a sweet release.

She could feel him trembling above her as the last few aftershocks of her master's orgasm eventually rippled through his body and when she was certain that they were both sated, Verena released his waist from her legs which had wrapped around him. His absence when he pulled out to retake his seat in the chair left her hollow, but she knew her master well, and made sure she remained lying shamelessly on his desk, knees apart so he could enjoy the view.

Verena sat up slowly, hoping to find his eyes on her, but was disappointed that he was once again staring off into the distance, as if he were somewhere else entirely. She had never seen him so distracted before. This angel had left her mark on the Count's brain and try as Verena might, she could not root the angel out.

Not to say that the Count ever declined the opportunity to sleep with his bride – or any other woman, for that matter. His appetites remained unchanged. But it was starting to feel as though he were merely going through the motions, as if he ravished her or any other woman in an effort to convince himself and others that this angel, whoever she was, had not affected him.

But she had affected him, the evidence was there on his face as he stared mindlessly into the distance, his thoughts so far away from the here and now and Verena was at a loss.

In the last ten years, she had exhausted all of her resources, all of the tactics and manipulations in her arsenal that usually brought his attention back to her. They weren't working like they used to, and though she hid it well, it concerned her greatly.

"What is it about this angel, my lord, that troubles your mind so?" she asked at last, breaking the silence and making herself more presentable before him. His eyes never came back to hers when he responded.

"I pride myself in being an excellent judge of character, Verena. I can usually gauge a person's disposition, their temperament and nature, their strengths and their vices in a single meeting. But this angel… this Lailah," and his voice drifted for a moment in thoughtful recollection of his meeting with her ten years ago – a meeting he had replayed in his mind countless times since. "There's something about her I can't quite put my finger on."

"Do you think perhaps you've met her before and simply can't remember?"

"I could never forget that face – that steel expression, those dark blue eyes…"

His voice trailed off once more and something dreadful began to settle in Verena's stomach. She watched her master with a careful expression for several long moments of silence before she realized – Count Dracula, like all men, had weaknesses, and though his weaknesses were more favorite sins than anything else, there was one weakness in particular that hooked him every single time.

The Count loved a challenge.

Especially when that challenge was a beautiful woman.

Verena wondered why she hadn't figured it out sooner and she mentally kicked herself for being so dense. No wonder her master was so obsessed!

"Do you know what vital piece of information we have overlooked, my lord?" she said, the sound of her voice pulling him violently out of whatever thoughts he had been having and his eyes found hers. "What is the difference between this Lailah and an archangel like Gabriel?" She allowed her query to sink in for a moment before answering the otherwise rhetorical question. "Lailah is just an angel, my love. What's more, she's a lesser angel, lower class. Why do you think we can hardly find any information on her? Because of her position. When you met her, what was your first impression of her?"

"She's arrogant, stubborn, very intelligent, but also well-guarded, as if she's hiding something, some great secret. She does not seem intimidated by prospects of danger, which suggests a superiority complex, but she's also very much in control."

"Does that sound like the personality of a lesser angel to you?"

"No, it does not. I've met my fair share of them, they were all the same – ambitious but still so human, so easily manipulated. This one feels different."

"Everyone can be bought at the right price, my love, and I believe this angel is no exception. We just have to figure out what we can give her – protection, sex, power, or whatever it may be. I do believe it has become necessary to insist on proper introductions, however. If we're going to get Ana and the child back, we need this angel out of the picture."

"And in order to do that effectively, we need to know what we're dealing with – yes, I see your point," he finished, his finger and thumb stroking his chin in a thoughtful manner as he mulled it over in his brain, the idea of meeting Lailah again.

"If the angel is uncooperative, we have other options available, but first, let us try the civilized approach. Besides," and she finally slid off the table, noting that Zane was nearby with Helena, "Your anniversary celebration is coming up. We could always invite her to the party. It would be an excellent opportunity to show your strength and sphere of influence. And the timing would be fairly convenient as well."

"That's if she even accepts the invitation in the first place – I doubt she'd come. Being the only angel amidst a sea of monsters? No – she'd have to be either very foolish or very desperate to even entertain such a request," he replied with a smirk. "Unless she's far more powerful than we originally assumed - then it could prove disastrous. But I suppose it's worth a try. I mean, what have we to lose?" and he smiled up at her. "Very well, my love, we'll do this your way, though don't be surprised if she doesn't take the bait."

"Oh, she'll take the bait. Besides, she'd be just another person to show off my new gown to. I wonder if angels are fashionably conscious?"

"You women – always love to dress up, don't you?"

"Oh my love, we don't dress up for our own amusement. Besides, the best dresses aren't meant to be worn for long. They're meant to be taken off," and she sent him a devious grin that he returned with a licentious expression.

She exited the room just as Zane and Helena were entering, the redheaded woman silently crying as the soldier held her roughly by her arm, practically dragging her into the study and throwing her at the feet of the Count who was now leaning against the front of his desk again.

Dracula watched the weeping woman with an unusual amount of curiosity, rather than the anger Zane had been expecting. But when he noted the wicked look in Verena's eyes, he realized that the wench had put an idea into his master's head. He'd find out what it was soon enough.

"Thank you, Zane. You may go," the Count replied, waving him off with his hand. When his captain of the guard was gone, Dracula walked over to the door, each step calculated to make Helena all the more anxious to the point of visibly cringing when he shut the door and locked it, sealing them in the room together. She could feel his eyes on her as he circled the room, the sound of each slow step causing her heart to race furiously in a dreadful anticipation at what he would do.

Dracula allowed the silence to reign for several long, torturous moments, relishing in the smell of her fear. He could still recall the first time he had laid eyes on her. Every year, men and women broken by hardship or struggling against starvation would come to the gates of the palace, offering their sons or daughters to feed his people or serve in his home, all for gold or food. Those sold to him always harbored a terrible sense of bitterness towards their families who gave them up for a handsome reward, but Helena had been different.

No one had tried to sell her.

She had sold herself.

And her price – the heads of her family's killers, a pair of his soldiers who had tormented her family for years before brutally slaughtering them. He could still recall how astonished he had been when he had first met her, barely able to pay attention to her tale of woe as she had so reminded him of his long-lost bride, the vivacious Aleera.

Helena had the same red hair, the same beautifully pale skin. But unlike the fire and borderline insanity in Aleera's eyes, Helena's eyes were cold and dead, the consequence of being consumed by vengeance and a longing to join her family in heaven. He had intended to make her a servant, but after feasting on her blood just once, he knew that such a position would never do.

So he tortured the killers of her family for all to see, and when the soldiers were dead and their heads presented to her, he made her one of his blood girls, a group of women he bedded and fed from exclusively – selected from the finest stock of humans in the city, and each one exceptionally beautiful.

But Helena had been different from the others.

Where most fought for his attention and the pleasure he could offer, Helena never sought it, though her implicit obedience up until this moment had been an amiable feature of hers.

A part of him wondered what had changed.

"Stand, child," he ordered her gently, bending down to take her chin in his hand and she raised her eyes to him, standing slowly. "Verena tells me you have been very disobedient, my dear. Is that true?"

"Yes, master," she answered dutifully, eyes falling to the floor when he released her chin.

"I understand you've been in contact with the angel, Lailah, as well as Ana. Is this also true?" and he began to circle her.

"Yes, master," was her reply and her head fell, several locks of her curly red hair falling in front of her face.

"How did Ana get in contact with you?"

She looked up expectantly.

"Forgive my impertinence, master, but how did you know it was Ana?"

"The two of you were fairly close when she was living here. I have not forgotten that. Now, answer the question, Helena," he urged her with an unnerving amount of patience.

"I accompanied you, the mistress Verena, and several others into the city some months ago, master, and a woman I had not seen before approached me with a note signed by Ana Val."

"Why did you not speak of this before?"

"The woman had magic, master… she – she kissed me and cursed my lips. I could not speak of what I had heard or seen."

"Why are you able to speak now?"

"She lifted the curse after I did as she asked."

"And what did she ask of you, child?"

"There was a church – Istovar chapel, I believe is what it's called."

"But that part of town has been mostly abandoned for years. What do the locals tend to call it? Such a charming name…"

"The Devil's District, sir."

"Yes, that's it. Why did she want to meet you out there?"

"I did not know, my lord, but Ana was not there. Someone else had come in her place."

That seemed to catch the Count's attention and he dare not let himself hope that the person of whom she spoke was the very woman he wanted to get in contact with.

"Was it a woman? An angel, perchance, my dear? Blonde hair, dark blue eyes, slight air of arrogance about her?"

"I can't confirm whether or not she is an angel, my lord. I can never recall much of anything after our visits, but she is as you describe."

"Did she give you her name?"

"No master. I do not know her name."

"How many times have you met her?"

"That I can recall? Perhaps a dozen."

"And what information do you bring her?"

Ah – there was the question Helena had been afraid of. The torment she had undergone when Verena had been questioning her beforehand had been brutal, and though Verena had healed the woman so she could inform her master, Helena could still feel the cold steel of a scalpel carving into the skin of her breasts, over her belly and down her thighs. She shuddered at the thought. To avoid further punishment, she answered the Count's queries.

"At first she wanted floor plans to the palace – including any tunnels that may run underneath the foundation. She was also extremely interested in the witch."

"My witch?"

"Yes."

"What did you tell her?"

"I am very ignorant on such matters, master, but I told her what I knew. I told her that she resides in the eastern tower, that you have been having the witch and many of your servants searching for information on the angel, Lailah, for ten years and that you've had little success. At least, that's all I remember telling her."

The Count, though miffed that he had managed to go several months completely unaware that he had a mole in his midst, was surprisingly calm. Knowing Verena's taste for cruelty and seeing the state Helena was in, he could only imagine that his bride had done a number on the girl.

Though usually he rewarded traitors with grisly demises, the more the thought about it, the more he realized that Helena could be quite useful to him. So he stood before her, in all his dark majesty, and he looked directly into her eyes, consciously making sure his features softened visibly. He even smiled a little.

"My dear, there is no need to be frightened," he assured her. "I forgive you for your wrong-doings and you will receive no further punishment than that which has already been placed upon you." Helena's teal colored eyes filled with tears as she fell to his feet and cried softly, her hands gripping the ends of his pants.

"Oh thank you, master. Thank you."

He bent down and gently took the side of her face in his hand, bringing her eyes to meet his gaze as he brushed a few of her tears away with a tenderness that surprised and soothed her greatly.

"You were manipulated, my dear. That is not your fault."

"Yes, master."

"I know your time here has been a trying one," he added to her astonishment. "And I know that when you came to me all those years ago, it was in the name of the family you had lost." The deep sadness in her eyes amused him greatly. So easy to play, this one. "My darling, the woman you met in that church, she stole my family from me and I have spent the last ten years striving to get them back but to no avail… until now."

"My lord?"

"Helena, my pet, I need you do to something very important for me."

"Yes master. I'll do anything, anything you ask."

His smile turned malicious.

"Of course you will."

The Count stretched forth his hand, two fingers lightly touching her brow and she felt a strange heaviness in her head that weighed down on her brain with such force, everything went black, her body going limp as it fell to the floor and her head hit the ground with a sickening smack. Dracula stood from his previously crouched position, all affection gone from his face as he looked down with mild disdain at the unconscious Helena on the ground.

He shouted for Zane, who entered the room instantly and the Count motioned towards the woman.

"Take her back to her chambers. Chain her to the bed if you must. I want a guard posted at her door at all times. She is not to leave until I summon her, is that understood?"

"Yes master," and Zane lifted Helena up with ease, throwing her over his shoulder and carrying her out of the room. Verena shortly thereafter appeared, clearly displeased that the redheaded whore her master often fed from was still alive. She sent him a questioning look.

"Is there a reason why the little traitor's heart still beats?" she asked as the Count exited from his study and she followed after him.

"I'll need her alive in order to deliver a message."

"What message?"

"Tell the servants that in addition to their usual preparations for the anniversary ball, they'll need to prepare the sitting room on the floor of the ballroom as well. And I've been meaning to ask, have the invitations been sent out yet? I assume we're sticking to the usual list, of course. I'll need one made up for Lailah as well."

"My love?" Verena called out in a slightly agitated tone as he began to ascend the grand stairs. He stopped and turned back to look at her.

"Yes?"

"Before I send for the butler or the housekeeper to take down your dictation, why all the extravagance?"

"I can't very well leave a bad first impression when our guest of honor arrives, now can I?" he answered cheekily and she sent him a look.

"Count, what are you up to? Does the girl know how to find the angel? Does she know where Ana and the child are hiding?"

"Not presently, no. But we don't need that right now. We just need her to extend the invitation," was his reply and he continued to ascend. "We shall invite this angel to attend the ball where she and I will discuss some kind of arrangement. I'll give her whatever she wants for Ana and the child – or at the very least, Ana."

"And what if Lailah refuses?" she called out before he could get too far. "What if she doesn't come?"

Dracula stopped once again, only this time he didn't turn around to face her. He smiled to himself, feeling positively devious.

"Oh, she'll come. She won't be able to resist."

The plot thickens! And see? I told you his grace would return in all his smexy and villainous glory. Oh, the evil things he and I have planned for the future. It makes me want to laugh maniacally.

Another round of thanks to those who reviewed chapter 2 - Scarlet Empress, Guest, Shawny.a, invisible reader, Angel of Beauty (I'm so glad you're back!), Darling Empress, the countess, and ForeverACharmedOne. You guys just make me so happy, I wish I could hug you or give you a cookie or something. Please keep the reviews coming! I love reading them!

Friendly reminder that the next update won't be for another two weeks - so chapter 4 will go live on November 28th.

Until then, my friends, please do LEAVE A REVIEW so I know how you liked (or maybe didn't like) the chapter and I'll see you next time!