Natsu and Lucy continued toward the building and once inside saw that it appeared to be completely abandoned. There was no one in sight and no sign that anyone had been there in years but Natsu knew better. His nose had never failed him before.

"Are you sure that Gray will be able to handle that great big thing on his own?" Lucy asked Natsu.

"Oh trust me he can handle any demon. In fact he's every demon's worst nightmare."

"Why is that?"

"Because he's a devil who serves God. That means he fight's against them and knows everything there is to know about a devil, demon, or imp which probably makes him their most dangerous enemy. Next to God that is."

"You know I find it very fascinating that Gray went against his biological nature and became a Protestant Christian."

"Well both his parents were Protestant although his old man started out as a pagan, and he was raised by a Protestant so go figure."

"But weren't you raised to be a Christian too? I mean you were both raised by the same man."

"I was. Even before I met Vahan. My father was Islamic but he converted after meeting my mother. That's another thing Gray and I had in common. Both our fathers started out having different religions but converted because of their love for our mothers."

"You and Gray have a lot more in common than I first thought. It's a shame that your relationship fell apart. Why don't you try talking to him?"

"I told you, it wouldn't do any good. He thinks I'm responsible for the death of someone he loved."

"But if you would just explain-"

"I tried that years ago but he wouldn't listen. He said I was a liar and he swore that I gloated to him about my involvement."

"Involvement?"

"He doesn't believe I directly killed her. You know, pull the trigger? Stabbed the victim with the knife? Add the poison to the drink? You get the idea?"

"Yeah."

"But he thinks I was the mastermind behind it and that I manipulated that whole thing. I don't even know how to manipulate people."

"I thought vampires could use hypnosis and mind control."

"They can."

"Can you?"

"Yes but I choose not to use it."

"Why?"

"I don't like messing with someone's will and depriving them of their own thoughts. It's basically raping someone's mind and I think that's too twisted even for a vampire. I don't wanna enslave anyone. I've lived through that and I wouldn't wish it on anyone else."

"Huh...You are a lot different the vampires I've read about in books. They're all either remorseless, bloodthirsty monsters with no standards or creepy, emotionless guys who women only be with just because they're good looking."

"Well in my case you're not that far off on the bloodthirsty monster part. But I have standards and feel remorse. Sometimes."

"What do you mean sometimes you feel remorse?"

"I mean sometimes I regret having to kill certain people and sometimes I don't. I never regretted killing Ivan. But I did regret drinking so much of his blood. It had a terrible taste. It was like drinking tar and please don't ask how I know what tar tastes like. Believe me, you don't want to know."

"Okay and on a different subject, are you sure you don't know anything about this Regine person we're investigating?"

"Not a thing. I've never heard of this woman. She must've showed up after I got staked."

"Well according to Erza, she came into this world only decade after you turned yourself. So she's almost been around as long as you and Gray have."

"Then maybe she's one of those discreet types."

They searched all around the building and soon discovered that it was a lot bigger and deeper than they realized. They soon found some drilled tunnels leading downward into a seminly endless darkness.

"Lucy I think it would be best if you went back outside and waited for me." Natsu told her.

"Why?" She asked.

"Because it's dark down there and there's only two of us. That's a vampire attack waiting to happen. Go where there's a lot of witnesses."

"Will be alright on your own?"

"Please, I do this kind of work all the time."

She was hesitant to leave him but eventually she complied. He carefully and quietly went down the tunnel and although it was pitch black, he could see everything perfectly. The scent of what his nose had been seeking was definitely down there and he figured that what he was about to find was going to be the mother load.

Suddenly he heard something flinch, he stopped and heard something crawling around. No. No, not crawling. Slithering. Slithering like serpent with perfect movement and stealth. Had Natsu been human with average hearing, he would not have heard such movement which made him feel relieved that he had not brought Lucy down here. He turned his gaze to look at what was slithering and at last he saw her.

She was very tall and thin, dressed regally in green garments that he recognized to be the style of Hungarian medieval. She looked to be in her thirties and was reasonably attractive with a tempting body but there were parts of her that wouldn't exactly draw a man in. At least not a smart or faithful man. One was her skin. It was pale but not in a way that was fair, feminine, and delicate like Juvia's or at least that's how he heard Gray describe her skin. This woman's skin was sickly and it almost made her come off as a walking corpse. Her fingers were much too long as were her nails which were curved like hooks. But what he found to be her most unappealing feature were her eyes. There was just something off about them even for a vampire. They were slanted and made him feel like he was looking at a snake.

"Natsu Dragneel, I presume?" She said. Even her voice reminded him of a serpent. "I am pleased to finally meet you. I've heard so much."

"Who are you lady?"

"Countess Regine at your service."

"So you're the undead broad we're looking for?"

"Actually it's me who's been looking for you but due to the failure of my children, I realize that if I want something done right I have to do it myself."

"Children? You call those deviants children?"

"I created them and gave them life therefore I am their mother and they in turn are my children."

"You have a funny way of mothering your children."

"What is that supposed to mean?"

"I heard about what you did to Bane. You consider them your children? If that's the case then how could you kill your own child?"

"All parents punish their children."

"Good parents don't typically see murder as a reasonable punishment."

"He made his choice. He chose humans over me. He gave up a chance to rule over every creature on this earth. He gave up eternal life and power. And for what?"

"Love?"

"Love." She spat. "Love has no place in my clan."

"Obviously."

"Besides Bane could always be replaced and I think that half breed he fathered with that human cow will do."

"You can't have Wendy. You're not her mother. You didn't create her."

"I created her father which means she wouldn't exist if it weren't for me."

"Why do you even want her? She's half human and if legends are correct, you don't care much for humans or anything involved with them. You don't even like vampires who were once human."

"That is true but I guess you could say I have soft spot for her because of her father. Bane was always one of my favorites. He was perfect in every way. Beautiful, young, powerful, strong, vicious, fearsome, out of all my creations he was the best. Pity he had to allow himself to succumb to the charms of a human woman. Believe me, I felt no pleasure in destroying him."

"You'll forgive me for being skeptic." He snarked. "So I know why you're obsessed with Wendy who by the way you're never going to get your hands on but why are you interested in me? I have no relation to Bane. I'm related to Wendy through her mother."

"Yes I know which makes me a little sick but I can get over that. I've been looking for you because I have a proposition for you."

"Whatever it is the answer is no. I don't do propositions, they always have strings attached."

"But you'll be fair and hear me out won't you?"

"Fine."

"You were once part of the human race but you willingly chose to become nosferatu. Most human turned vampires are changed through force or mind manipulation, meaning they don't willingly forsake God and humanity to join the darkness. Hence why I find them so pathetic. You are an exception to my hatred because you know that our race is the superior one. The one that deserves to rule this world."

"Yeah about that, I'm guessing you didn't get the memo. I've recently decided that turning myself into a vampire wasn't the best idea. I guess you could say I was to angry and emotional to think clearly when I did that. So I don't believe vampires are the superior race."

"What a pity, I was hoping you would join my clan and serve as my second in command."

"Sorry that's not going to happen."

"I see. Of course you realize that if you refuse then I have no other choice but to destroy you."

"Yeah I saw that one coming."

" I can't allow a vampire like you to exist and not be apart of my clan. That makes my goal a lot more difficult to accomplish. However I will not destroy you now."

"Good because if I destroy now it'll be easy."

He shot a wooden stake but he missed, she moved out of the way too quickly.

"Aligning yourself with humans again has made you slow." She taunted. "You shouldn't have let the guilt of what you did that woman get to you."

Natsu became stiff with guilt and terror when she finished speaking.

"How do you know about that?"

"I battled Archibald Heartfilia too Natsu and I was defeated but before that humiliating disgrace, I would often hear him speak of his enemies. You were an especially favorite subject of his to talk about." She smiled in a twisted and unattractive way. "I know all about why you really turned your back on my kind. Why you really feel remorse for the choice you made. And I do wonder, what would happen if I told certain people your dirty little secret? Like say, Miss Lucy. Oh sure she knows and understands that you've done wrong but she doesn't know the exact details of what you've done, does she? She doesn't know about Edith does she? Oh what would she think if she knew what you did to that poor woman?"

Natsu was too paralyzed with guilt and a long forgotten fear to fight her. So Regine got away and Natsu was left trembling.