Disclaimer: Nope, still not mine. "

Author's Note: A great thank you to Midnight Dove, Rogue, Ti Sly, and Liber Creperum-Liber Diabolus for your wonderful reviews. Also, if anyone has any ideas for a story title I'm completely open to them; feel free to let me know. (I'm saying this because I find that I'm usually renaming stories I read, hehehe ")

Chapter Two:

Blackness had taken over the sky by the time Van Helsing and Carl reached the familiar, little town. There was no one in sight; of course, Carl couldn't blame them. With strange happenings going on, he didn't find it unnatural that everyone was hiding in their houses. Just the thought of vampires made him shiver.

Another reason that Carl figured was good to explain as to why no one was out, was that Dracula's life – well ... as much of a life that he has, for you have to be living to technically have a life - had already been threatened. Chances are he'd be out for blood to avenge the death of his brides and to show them that no one should try and stop Dracula.

Van Helsing dismounted his horse and began to walk it to the Valerious Castle. Frowning slightly, Carl followed suit.

"Van Helsing," Carl asked, toddling along next to him, "why are we going there?" He seemed more than a little uneasy.

"Carl," he replied, "do you really think we'd find somewhere to stay? Not only is it late, but how well do these people trust me? I'm nothing but a murderer to most and others may be too scared we'll attract the attention of Dracula." He looked at Carl momentarily. "Besides, that way we've got easy access to his lair."

"Oh ... Well ... Yes ... That does make sense," the friar admitted. He looked around the castle uneasily upon entering. "But if we have such easy access to Dracula, won't he have easy access for us?"

Van Helsing stopped walking once he reached the outside of the bedrooms. He looked at Carl with an expression that tells him to relax.

"Calm down, Carl," he told him. "He'll take his time before coming after us. He won't want to risk another failure. We've got to make sure we're prepared for every plan he may swing at us. Now," he said, "I'm going to see what sort of weapons are lying around. You should go research through books, maybe try to find something you may have missed. Every detail will be important."

Once Carl nodded in agreement, they both went their separate ways.

Dracula walked around a golden stand. It was probably three inches thick, and the top of it had a holder which held a ball made of diamonds. Yes, the Devil had been particularly generous to the count. After all, he'd given him something valuable, something everyone would murder to have – a device to see whatever he wants.

And now, as he focused all his attention on the scene playing before him, Drac saw the visitors in the Valerious Castle. He also noted that they knew what they were doing, to some extent at least. Gabriel had sent his friend – Carl, did he say? – to search through books. That meant Van Helsing wasn't quite as sure as he was last time. Good. And they knew he was planning something. Of course, his plan was drastically changing with every moment he watched.

This Carl, a friar, was a coward. Although he was good with books and trinkets and such minor things as those, when it came to fighting, he backed out. It would be easy to overpower him. At every sound, the man would flinch and Dracula could practically smell the fear on him. It was like Heaven in Hell. A sadistic grin came to his face. Yes, Carl would prove most helpful. All Dracula had to do was sit back and wait for the opportune moment, and he didn't have to wait long.