They stared at each other for barely a few seconds before they moved. Inara felt herself being pulled into a tight hug, the air almost knocked out of her as Gabriel's strong arms kept her close to his chest. She was almost hesitant to touch him, was this real? Or just another dream plaguing her fatigued mind?

"Inara..." he said quietly, the hug was gentler, but at the same time it was still strong, allowing her no room to move. He ran his hands through her hair pulling more hairs loose, and after a moment Inara was able to create enough space to really look at him. She ran her fingers gently over his cheek, a stubble had formed there, either he had no time, or just didn't care about how he looked. She assumed the latter, a similar stubble had always been there. Besides the increase in whiskers and some faint wrinkles on his face, he looked the same as the day she left him.

"Gabriel... it's really you?" Inara asked weakly, and he would nod, his own fingers tracing over her pale skin. He only nodded, continuing to run his own fingers gently over her cheeks. A smile crept to her lips, as well as his, and they embraced again, Inara welcoming the strong embrace. "I thought I wouldn't see you again."

"After your letter... I wouldn't stop looking..." The moment of shock and happiness seemed to drain from Inara's face, the happy glow being replaced by a painful and terrible fear.

"You should have... Gabriel... if he learns about you being here... you have to go," she hissed, backing from, but the pull against his grip only made him hold her tighter.

"No, not after I found you."

"He'll kill you! Gabriel if he finds you he'll kill you! Everyone here... the majority are vampires, if he finds you..."

"I'm not leaving you, Inara," Gabriel practically growled. Where was the fiery, stubborn Inara he knew? When was she replaced with this petrified and timid girl?

Inara's eyes passed over him again, fear raging in those eyes, but with a flicker, she once again pulled back away from him. This time though, Gabriel let her withdraw, an almost pained expression passing over his face.

"Gabriel..." Inara almost breathed. "The gardens, there is a row of shrubs that reach to the second floor, opposite a cluster of hydrangeas. Stay there." Her orders were so quiet that Gabriel looked as if he had not heard, but by the look in her eyes, he was quick to part, though obviously reluctant to. She watched him go, trying to breath slow enough to calm that racing heart, though as she felt a presence behind her, she knew her quiet, pale watchers had noticed the increase in tempo.

"Inara... are you feeling alright?" Simon's smooth and proper voice asked, no more than a cool mist on the back of Inara's neck. She struggled to find her voice, not noticing she had lost it, but she would shake her head, raising one hand to hold that forehead, flush with color.

"I'm... feeling a little hot... I'm not use to so many people and so much dancing," she said, turning her head slightly to catch a glimpse of him out of the corner of her eye. "I think I might go back to my room..."

"I'll send Anwen with you," Simon calmly stated, and before Inara could protest the lithe figure moved over that dance floor like an apparition. Her falsely colored face turned to concern as she looked from Simon to Inara, confused as to why she had been summoned away from a collection of wealthy mortal men, all doting on her.

"What is wrong Simon?" she asked before turning her cool gaze to Inara. "Are you alright?"

"Inara just..."

"I need to retire to my room. I think my lack of sleep is the reason I'm feeling so faint..." Inara explained, drawing away from the two, and going up the very stairs that Van Helsing had disappeared under, hopefully to find the garden without finding Hayden.

It was a straight path through the hallway, and after entering the garden, Gabriel was quiet to pass through the lines and rows of flowers and shrubs, looking for that one location Inara had practically whispered to him. All the while his face was up turned, looking at the rows of windows, looking for movement. Shadows danced around a few, people moving in secluded areas, but they were hallways, corridors, not a room. Turning his face back to the garden Gabriel searched, brown eyes nearly black with determination as he passed rows of daffodils and delphiniums, roses and lilacs, searching for that one flower.

"Esmerelda... have you seen Inara?"

"No, My Lord... not since you two danced..."

"Fetch Simon..." Dracula ordered, his voice hinting at some concern. Something wasn't right, her heart was far from the Great Hall, still on the property... her room? Simon should know, he saw them speaking, and Hayden wouldn't allow Inara to pass from the grounds. She was well under his control, so why was he suddenly nervous when his prize was out of sight.

"Yes, My Lord?" Simon's voice floated to his ears, calm enough as Anwen came to stand with the small group as well, now relocated to the edge of the dance floor.

"Where is, Inara?"

"Her room... poor dear was feeling ill..." Anwen answered, standing closer to Simon who simply nodded in agreement with his sister.

"She looked flushed... and I don't think she's in the best health to begin with," Simon added, but they were silenced by the look on Dracula's face. It was almost frightening, and the three underlings exchanged looks, what had brought such a look upon his face?

"Who have you been near?"

"My... my lord?" Simon asked.

"Go to Inara's room. Now." he snapped, eyes taking on a crimson hue that made his fledglings flee, all three going to Inara's quarters as he stalked off.

"If I find him..."

Inara had trouble getting out of that dress, and only felt as if she had time to pull on the basic cloths before rushing to her window. How much time did she waste? Did he know? He couldn't hear her pacing heart so far away, could he? She pried the window open, that two story drop was daunting, but as she saw Gabriel rounding towards her, she took a deep breath and leapt.

She felt brush around her, and sharp pains, on her arms as well as her legs. She could hear the slamming of boots near her, and she forgot that she had no shoes. There was no turning back, she was out of the house. Thoughts raced through Inara's head, she could barely sort them out into a coherent strain, but she felt strong hands pulling her away from that bush she had so narrowly missed.

"Are you insane?" Van Helsing scolded. Inara could feel rivets of blood dripping down her arms, that wasn't good. As the Hunter looked her over, Inara could hear banging on her door.

"They know, you have to run." she said almost calmly, as if she was a thousand miles away. Gabriel gave her a strange look, but took her by the hand and they bolted out of the garden, leaping over the opposing arrangement and into the lush yard as three figures entered Inara's room. They were coming for her, apprehending the 'thief' was a secondary goal, but the primary goal was to retrieve her. Their master's prize, but so much more than that. If it came down to it, Inara knew she would have to stop, distract them. Although she would be punished, the results would be far from death, but for Gabriel, he would be lucky if death found him before Dracula had a chance to.

"Inara!" Gabriel called, bringing her back to the present, in enough time to see Quinn and Hayden closing in on them. The sick smile on Quinn's face hinted at the fact that in the chaos, he had a better chance of repaying her for the punishment he had been forced to suffer. She felt Gabriel pulling her sharper. They were approaching the stables where the guests' vehicles were kept... Gabriel had a car?

The mad dash to the stables seemed to last for eternity, although it was only a few seconds when thousands of things seemed to happen at once. Inara felt Gabriel opening the doors, and he took her wrist, searching for his car. There was a crash, someone was in the loft above. As they moved to the back of the fifty yard stable, there was the slamming of feet, and Inara could hear her heart drumming in her ears.

Gabriel reached the car first, and as Inara tried to round to the door a hand came upon her shoulder and she was pulled back into a nearly crushing grip. She yelled in pain, feeling nails digging into her flesh. The t-shirt she wore provided little protection as Quinn tore into her flesh.

"Your downfall, little mortal," he hissed angrily into her ear. "My brothers can't stop me this time..." Inara could only yell as she felt him dragging her back, more footsteps echoed in the stable. A gun shot rang out though, she heard Quinn roar. Then another, and another, an entire clip was emptied before Inara was finally released. Blood that was not her own soaked her shirt, making it darker than the black shade it already was. Stumbling to the car she saw Gabriel leveling his pistol. Quinn was bleeding badly, but looked more irritated than injured. Hayden was suffering worse, shots hitting him near his heart, causing the large man to stumble to recover. He had apparently started to attack Gabriel, but was repelled with the silver bullets still in Gabriel's gun.

"Get in!" Gabriel roared, but Inara was frozen.