The Count (probably still needing therapy) goes looking for Agatha, and meets the other nuns. :)

Sister Lily was cleaning the grounds when she noticed someone waiting at the entrance. She went to the barred gates, walking slowly as she did so. He was tall, attractive, and she had never seen him before around the convent. His dark hair was neat, and he wore a nice suit and a necktie, as she saw the Detective wear often. All the appearance of a kind, well off, handsome gentleman.

"Good evening," he smiled as she approached.

"Good evening," said Lily. "Is there anything I can help you with?"

He inhaled sharply before he spoke, looking at her only briefly, then behind her, as if searching for someone or something.

"Yes," he said. "I'm looking for someone. May I come in?"

"Oh, well, it's rather late but I suppose you could perhaps—" she stopped herself. She was speaking quickly, having almost invited him in. He did had an odd, magnetic power about him. He could be dangerous.

"It's quite late for visitors." she said simply. "I'm sorry, who are you?"

"I am…" he tilted his head as if he were thinking about it, and continued slowly so she could correctly catch the name. "Mr. Balaur."

"Oh…" she frowned slightly. "And what is your business here?"

"I need to see Sister Agatha Van Helsing."

"I'm afraid I can't invite you in," she said boldly.

The Count frowned at her but smiled again curiously.

"You can't?"

"No. It is rather late and…I'm afraid we're in a kind of lockdown."

"…Pests?"

"Something like that, yes," said Lily.

"No matter. I don't need to go inside your convent. I can wait out here, by the benches. I just need to see Sister Agatha, if you would be so kind to call her to me."

"Oh…we don't have anyone by the name of Agatha Van Helsing here."

"That is a lie," he responded quickly, though his voice remained gentle and patient. "Now, Lily, why are you lying to me?"

"How did you know my name?"

He paused, annoyed at his own slip up. Then he laughed. Obviously, he needed to think over his words more. His state of mind—fogged for the past few weeks—had him slipping.

"You mentioned it earlier."

"I don't believe I did," she countered.

"Maybe the Detective did then."

"The Detective?"

"Yes, I am a friend of Detective Stefan Weber," he said. "And of Agatha, of course. I know her…quite intimately."

"Of course…and what business do you have with an Agatha Van Helsing?" she said, narrowing her eyes at him.

"It's personal. But it's very important that I see her," he said vaguely. "I have been trying to get in touch with her for a while now."

You will know it's him when you see him, Agatha had said to them once. And this very well could be Count Dracula. He was tall, dark, screamed danger as much as he tried to hide it. Though he did appear calm and polite enough, Lily felt he was still frightening in some inexplicable way.

"Will you please wait here a moment?"

"Of course. Take your time."

Lily smiled and went away, walking quickly as she went to the kitchen where Maria, Florence, and some of the others were preparing supper.

"Maria," she said. "We have company."

"Company?"

"Yes. A man asking for Agatha. Says he's a friends of hers and the Detective."

"My, Agatha's always got men visiting her, doesn't she. Even when she's away," said Florence.

"Exactly. That is the problem."

"What do you mean, Lily?" asked Maria, stopping what she was doing now and turning to her.

"That man out there, may or may not be a vampire. The vampire."

"What?" Maria and Florence spoke at the same time.

"I'll go grab a stake," Florence said, almost rushing away but Maria grabbed her arm.

"Florence, don't be rash. We are not going to try our luck at killing a vampire," stated Maria. "We shouldn't even get too close to him. Lily, how sure are you that it's him?"

"I can't be completely sure. But I feel it must be. And Agatha told us we would know."

"Well," said Maria, patting her hands dry with a towel. "The convent is protected. Let's go talk to him and send him on his way."

As they left the kitchen and turned a corner of the hall leading to the entrance of the convent, the other two Sisters caught a glimpse of him. He was patiently waiting, walking back and forth, with his hands in his pockets.

"Oh my, is that him?" asked Florence gasping.

"Of course, yes it is."

"I can see why Agatha wouldn't stop dreaming of him. He looks rather…"

"Yes, I know," said Lily.

"Agatha failed to tell us he was so-," Florence continued.

"Florence," said Maria. "Please don't finish that sentence. Agatha would not want us to."

"Right. I'm sorry, just an observation."

As they neared the gates, the Count's eyes flickered from one Sister to the other, inhaling sharply the air around him, as if absorbing their scents.

"Hello ladies," he grinned. Their attention immediately went to his sharp teeth.

"Hello," said Florence softly, and there was an uneasy silence as they looked upon the "Mr. Balaur", trying to decipher whether it was really the vampire Agatha had spoken so much of.

"I understand you are looking for Agatha Van Helsing," said Maria. "We do not have a Sister Agatha here."

"I thought I made it clear," he said, now placing his large hands on the iron bars of the gate and stepping closer. The three Sisters could've sworn they heard the iron creak when he did so. "That I know for certain you do have a Sister Agatha here."

"Well, my Sisters are telling the truth—" said Florence.

"Dutch, tall, dark hair, intelligent and overly inquisitive? Ring any bells?"

"Yes, but—"

"Agatha Van Helsing," he said harshly, drawing out the syllables of her name. "I need her now. Urgently. So if you would please bring her to me. I know she is here and I will not leave the gates of your convent until I see her."

He sighed, calming himself a bit. Dracula knew he needed to remain, well calm, to get what he wanted. And he was quickly scaring the Sisters, who were already suspicious of him, he knew that much.

"That is all I ask," he lowered his voice. "I don't need to go inside, and I won't take up much of your dear Sister's time."

He let go of the iron bars and smiled, stepping back. The gates visibly shook with the strength he had just been holding them with, and the three women could swear they heard the iron gates creak again.

"Well you see," said Maria. "You can wait out here all night. But we tell you the truth. We know who you speak of, of course, but Agatha is not here. I thought you would know…"

"Thought I would know?"

"Yes, given that…you're a friend of Detective Stefan's, correct?"

"Yes."

"Well, Sister Agatha left the convent a few weeks ago. She has been staying with the Detective ever since."

The Count raised his eyebrows at the Sisters and then chuckled loudly.

"Excuse me?" he said.

"Yes, she's gone. She's on a sort of…leave of absence," continued Maria. The other Sisters nodded in agreeance.

There was an uneasy silence, and the Count's face was visibly flushed and serious. Sister Florence laughed nervously. The other two nuns looked at her, glaring at her to stop bringing attention to herself. The Count barely seemed to notice it, however.

"She's a nun. Do you nuns do that? 'Leaves of absences?' Running off with men?" he asked.

"Not usually. She is the exception."

"Of course she is," he said.

"Sister Agatha felt it was the best given our current….pest problem," continued Lily.

"Ah," he looked down, and flexed his fingers, balling them into fists momentarily before relaxing and looking back at the nuns, as composed as he possibly could.

"I don't suppose you could give me any more information. Or if Agatha is returning anytime soon…"

"No sir, we don't. We're not sure exactly where she is even at…I'm afraid we don't have anything more to tell you," said Maria. "It's best you write to your friend."

"Of course…I will," he smiled, regaining his composure.

"Well ladies, thank you for your help. If Agatha returns, tell her Mr. Balaur sends his regards. Have a good night."

"Yes, good night to you as well."

They watched him go, quickly disappearing into the night. When he was gone, they proceeded to Agatha's abandoned study, where she had left some of her readings and weapons perfectly organized for them.

"That was strange, wasn't it," said Lily.

"Very much so," said Maria, looking around the room. It felt odd to her to be there without Agatha present.

"He looks human enough…but he certainly looks like a vampire," said Florence, shrugging.

"Florence; How exactly would we even know what a vampire would look like?"

"Hm. You have a point," she answered.

"He didn't seem keen on being invited in," said Maria.

"Yes…What did he want with Agatha?" asked Lily.

"I don't know. Maybe he was going to kill her. If he is Count Dracula, she did hurt him very much the last night he was here…"

"True. I worry about her…"

"Agatha can handle herself," said Florence. "Besides, she does have an obvious advantage. He is clearly fevered over her."

The other two nuns glared at her.

"Florence," remarked Lily, "The things you say sometimes—"

"What?" she said defensively. "He was rash in coming here and was going off about Agatha like a madman. And did you see his face when we mentioned she left, and about the Detective? There's just something weird there."

"That's another thing…He knew about both Agatha and the Detective," said Lily. "We should go to her and help her. Lord knows she has trouble with the dreaming. It's why she left in the first place."

"We are nuns, not warriors," said Maria.

"We can handle ourselves. Wits and weapons, like Agatha told us."

"Alma is well and Emily is being watched on and cared for. The convent is safe and prepared for any dangers. We should find Agatha and ensure she and the Detective are safe."

"I agree," said Florence.

Maria was uncertain, and her Sisters did their best to convince her.

"Maria, it's the right—"

"Reckless—"

"- Right thing to do. We have the address from one of Agatha's letters. We can travel there, and besides it would be nice to see the countryside. Don't you like the countryside, Maria?" said Florence, knowing very well that she did.

"I suppose it would be nice to get out of the convent for a while…" said Maria in her usual melodic voice. "…Breathe in the fresh air along the way, sing songs…"

"Potentially kill vampires …" continued Florence.

"Yes, all those wonderful things," Lily nodded.

"Alright," Maria finally caved. "We'll go."

"Perfect! I'll pack the weapons," said Florence excitedly, already scurrying about the room and collecting some of what Agatha had left for them to protect themselves with.

The three Sisters packed their things and said their quick goodbyes to the others early the next morning.