"Care about him?" Velkan repeated.

"Please Velkan-"

"How could you care about him? That it is almost like saying, that you wish to die. That you wish to continue to be a puppet. A puppet constantly dancing over the very flames of hell!"

"You act as though I wanted this. I NEVER wanted this, Velkan! He has done so much more than kill my family. He has killed your sister and father and so many other people. He has taken dozen of women hostage and has killed them as well. I see the damage and I know the price I've paid."

"Then why pay it? Why put your life at risk? Why continue to live within the Devil's domain?" Velkan asked.

"If, for a moment, I knew the answer. I would tell you...but I don't. I don't know why I didn't reject him the other night, and I do not know why I continue to dine with him. Every time I am around him, it's as if I swallow poison but I never die. I hate him. I do. Yet..."

"You love him." Velkan finished Valeria's statement.

"What did you say?" Valeria asked.

"Do you take me for a fool, Valeria? I have been in love before and I know how it feels to not be with that person. Because you come from two different worlds...Two very different worlds. So you do not wish to accept the fact that you are passionately...madly in love with this person. Eventually...Eventually Valeria...You will admit that you love Dracula and I pray to the saints. That I will never be around to see your blood be spilt when you finally give way to your damned temptation."

Velkan raced off, Valeria was taken aback by what he said. Yet, she could not deny it, he was right. She may not of known it at that particular moment, but Velkan was entirely correct. Valeria finally reached the top of the staircase, it seemed as though Velkan had completely vanished.

"Velkan?" Valeria called out.

The doors to the dining hall suddenly slammed open, giving Valeria quite a start. Dracula was standing at the doorway, Valeria let out a large sigh.

"Count...You startled me." Valeria sighed.

"You must forgive my troubled hearing, Valeria. For I swear, I heard you call out for Velkan Valerious."

"Velkan Valerious is dead, Count. He has been dead for several months." Valeria said simply.

"Which is why your cry has left me... concerned."

There was a sudden clash of thunder, which left Valeria startled once more.

"You have been a dissapointment, Valeria. You are keeping something from me and you should know that secrets are never meant to be kept from my ears."

"You cannot accuse me of lying, Count! Velkan is dead, you may even find his grave if you weren't so short-sighted." Valeria argued.

Dracula then knocked over a chair and drew closer to Valeria, but she drew back.

"How often I had told myself that it was only a trick of the mind, that those who are dead can never live again. With the expection of myself. Yet, it seems as though this young werewolf has proven me wrong. Where is he, Valeria?"

"He is my only friend in the world, Count. You have taken so much from me, why not spare him-"

"Mercy is a virtue, my dear. I am not for virtues, as you can clearly see. Again, I ask, where is VELKAN?!"

"No...I cannot-"

Valeria tried to get away when Dracula grabbed her by her arms and made certain he had a good, yet terribly tight, hold on her.

"Let me go!" Valeria pleaded.

"So many chances I have had to kill you, Valeria! Yet, I have spared you. I will spare you now, though I know I can only regret it."

With that, Dracula pushed a frightened Valeria to the ground.

"So lovely, a delicate creature. A creature." Dracula used his fingertips to twirl Valeria's dark locks of hair.

"I will find him, and then I will pierce his heart. A cry will be let out, Valeria. A cry no one can silence." Dracula vowed.

Dracula left Valeria alone, she broke down in tears and threw herself onto the floor. She loved Dracula, and she admired Velkan. Now, she knew that her love for a demon, may have cost her the friendship of a true hero.