Author's Note: Unedited but will be corrected. The dress incident is referring to a soon-to-be-posted fic by Aku Maru called THEART. Read and review!

Chapter Six: The Bait

Severus Snape was sitting quietly in the Keep of Castle Ardennes. This was the room closest to the roof, and among the rows of old, decaying and overturned pews were scattered aged candlesticks that were half-used, and tattered versions of hymnals and bibles that promised to turn to dust if touched. Snape was sitting a few rows back from the altar, head tilted as he stared at the old stained glass window, and at the cross that had fallen from its place and broken one arm. It was propped against the table itself, thick with dust and somehow symbolic in its ruin.

His hands were folded loosely in his lap, half-opened with his fingers interlocked in the position of prayer- a pose he only broke to rub his eyes from what he claimed to be the dust.

"What is it you're looking for?"

Snape inhaled softly, and turned his head the other way, "I don't know…"

"I think you're lying." Melanie Reyes whispered as she walked towards him. Usually adorned as Lady of the Night, she was dressed now only as Melanie, in a simple blue dress with her brown hair down around her shoulders. She smiled at him softly as she sat, and put one hand over his. "You are looking for something but don't want to tell me."

He smiled and looked at her, slumping against her, and resting his head on her shoulder. "I've been called Morning Star, Lucifer, God…" He smiled wryly. "Dark Prince…all these different names for something that I never really thought existed. I mean we grow up like the Muggles do for the most part, knowing something of this man." He motioned to the crucifix. "But never really believing in it. They're just stories to us, but we use them because they're so familiar to us. It makes it easier for us to identify with things. Bad guys like us are called monsters, and devils while people like Dumbledore are called Ministers of Graces…or Guardian Angels." He paused, and looked away. "You read the papers of the Dark Prince's crimes, and know of the secret St. Michael exploits and laugh at these words, and admire our sense of theatrics…but never really consider that there could be something out there where these names came from." He leaned back. "And what's you do realize that there could possibly be something like that out there…your ego deflates and you're suddenly what you always were."

"What's that?"

"Something small." He whispered. "Frail."

"You are a great many things, Severus." Melanie began, tucking her hand within his. "But frail is not one of them."

"Then what am I?" He asked. "I've forgotten."

"You are the Dark Prince. He who makes the nations tremble."

And there it was. Such a neat and tidy title that was meant to explain away all the strengths and shortcomings that made him a man. Usually he would have accepted that as enough but not today and maybe never again. What he had seen in the Looking Glass earlier had changed him forever. Suddenly his picture perfect guise, his glass palace lost its gleam. All the finely dressed shadows were revealed. His house of cards had scattered. Dracula had taken it from him.

The Dark Prince, they called him, the Morning Star. They had called him the Devil playfully, assured that his arrogance and skill was enough to rival the Angel that had dared take on the Almighty.

Only now he had truly seen the Devil.

And he was afraid.

Snape was afraid of few things on earth and part of his mind reasoned that it was true enough that whatever Dracula was, he was not of this earth. He had seen it. Seen how Dracula's human features tore away to reveal his true nature. Severus shuttered as he placed his Uncle who had also suffered from the curse of Vampirism in such a place. No, his mind rejected that visage. Reiner, whatever he was, whatever he had been…

It was not this. It couldn't be.

"Severus?" Melanie whispered quietly. She leaned over and kissed him deeply, cupping his cheek in her hands and leaning into it passionately. "My Severus, my Prince…talk to me, please."

"He's evil." Snape murmured into her lips. He kissed her again, hungry for her touch as he always was. She could make him feel real again, make him feel human and loved. She could soothe away any nightmares with her touch. Now, he desperately needed for her to scare away Dracula and the terrible truth: that there was such a thing as pure evil, and there was nothing seductive or beautiful about it.

It was only a masquerade that made it appear so; a ruse that Severus not only believed but was a part of.

"Oh god he's evil…" Snape said again, holding onto to Melanie. "He's evil and we're helping him…"

"And why wouldn't you?" Called a voice from the entryway. Severus stood, rearing up to face the creature as he came. Dracula smiled at this scene of chivalry. "We are, after all, one in the same. You're just better at hiding it."

Snape's mind was rebelling again, screaming for him to counter this monster's words but he found himself mute. What could he say?

"You can hate me." Dracula said simply, leaning against the frame and folding his arms over his chest with a haughty smirk. "But you will be just like me one day. Evil has a way of working like that."

"I'm not evil…' Snape said, and admittedly the words sounded weak even to his ears. But he had to say it. He could not ally himself with the theory that Darkness and Evil were the same thing. He was a Death Eater, one of Voldemort's soldiers, not a monster. A thin difference to be sure but it was still there.

It had to be.

"So speaks a man who's fighting a losing battle with himself." Dracula turned his attention to Melanie, smiling at the girl as she shrank closer to the pew. Snape took a step in front, to block the Count's view but it did little to deter him. "You made your kingdom among the shadows, forged your titles through blood. What did you think that would make you?"

"I am a soldier."

"No, you were a soldier. Soldiers fight and die for causes that blow away like ash but even so, they fight for something bigger them themselves. For grand words like Freedom, honor and country…you have fought only for yourself." Dracula tilted his head, and extended a hand to Melanie. "…Either to keep nightmares away or to ensure you live in a manner you have become accustom to."

"Melanie, stay behind me…" Severus began but the words died on his lips as he watched Melanie rise and walk slowly to Dracula.

She looked entranced and frightened at the same time and Severus, abandoning all wise judgment, darted forward- away from the sanctuary of Holy Ground and pushing Dracula away from Melanie. The Count could have his place, have his title but he would not allow Rene to take Melanie from him. Not her.

Rene Dracula smiled as he stood again. He clapped his hands on Severus' shoulders and laughed. "And you are the worst kind of evil." He said, simply. "My father was the same way. You have seen, and touched those lovely ideals most people go to their graves believing in but never seeing, and still you threw it away." He stepped back, bowing to Melanie then to Severus. "I don't envy you."

"What kind of evil are you?" Severus asked, quietly.

Dracula tilted his head, and tuck a lock of hair away from his face. "I am the kind that creates creatures like you." He turned and looked out into the sky. "Speaking of which, I would do well to be on my way. I have business to attend to."

Everything in Severus was burning to press Dracula for information. He didn't trust the Count, now even more so, and feared what business he could possibly undertake but to ask questions would tell Dracula he feared him- and however truthful that was, Severus could not show weakness. Not now, not against this foe.

"Where are you going, Rene?" Melanie asked. She took Severus' arm and wrapped it around her slender frame, snaking her arms around his waist, and tickling his back with her hand. She glanced up, meeting Severus' eyes for a second before looking down, back to Dracula.

Severus smiled. He loved this woman.

Dracula didn't seem to notice the silent exchange. He reached over, touched Melanie's cheek with his thumb and pulled away. "I'm off to take what I have claimed."

The pain was nothing compared to the laughter. Her ears were ringing from their laughter that was thick and hoarse and cut through her like shards of glass. Silas was holding her firmly by her hair, burying her face into the bed as the blade he wore tore away her clothing. She felt him force his way with her, and despite her training, her strength, she screamed from the violation. He only laughed and gripped her hair tighter, yanking it on and pulling it from her scalp.

"Yes," Silas breathed angrily. "You are learning your lesson now, aren't you?"

She felt him release her and had thought foolishly it was over. But another came. Someone she didn't know but could not fight against. She screamed again, this time the enraged cry turning into a pathetic sob. She was tempted then, for the first time in her life, to beg. Beg these men for mercy, for them to stop, for them to leave her with some shred of dignity. But they would not. They would repeat this until each of the group had had their way with her.

And when they were done, they would drag her, half naked to the floor to kneel. It hurt to remain upright, and she could not see. She was coughing now, from sheer illness brought about by what these men had done to her and from smoke that was beginning to fill the Compound.

Burning, she realized, they were going to burn Hecate down.

This caused her to unwisely jerk away from them, for some vague desire she had to save the Compound she was sworn to protect. Silas' friend, the one he called, Ezra laughed at this and punched her hard against the temple, forcing her to collapse again.

"This bitch won't learn, will she?" Ezra demanded.

"What have you found?" Purred a soft, delicate voice that caused her to flinch when she heard it. Forcing open her eyes, narrowing them to strain through the smoke and sweat, she finally caught sight of the woman. Jack the Ripper recognized her too, eyes running over her beaten, violated form before looking over to Silas. "Eoin will kill you if he knew."

"She needed to be taught a lesson." Silas said, unapologetically.

She watched as Jackie unsheathed a small dagger from her belt. It was smaller then most of the Ripper's usual weapons, but somehow pretty with a wooden hilt that was gilded at the tip, and a silver blade that caught the light and caused her to blink when the sun got in her eyes. She heard Jackie walking towards her, and with more care then she thought the Ripper capable of, she felt her head being drawn back, and felt the blade to her neck. .

"Here endth the lesson," Jackie whispered and with one swift movement, she sliced through skin and flesh.

Erised jolted up in bed, trembling and breathing harshly. Her hand went up to her neck, over Jackie's kill-wound and for a long time she sat there in bed, trying to wordlessly reassure herself that it was all a dream.

"But it wasn't that time, was it?" Asked a soft, deadly voice from the corner. Erised turned, wide-eyed to glimpse the figure who was seated comfortably on the chair, playing with the dim candle light by running his fingers over the flame. Dracula smiled at her, then pulled the small lamp closer to his face, allowing the light to address his features. "I underestimated you, little one. Very few women would have your resolve over such an ordeal." He rose, and made his way to her bed. "It is all the more reason you are worthy of the gift I am about to bestow on you."

"I can scream." Erised began softly, but her so-called resolve evaporated as suddenly Dracula was on the bed, hand to the bandages on her neck.

He was staring intently at her neck, making her weak. "I can make you want to…"

"…Don't." She whispered; eyes closing as she leaned closer to him. She could feel his breath on her neck and found that she had trouble keeping her senses straight. She ordered her body to obey, but it rebelled, conforming to the Count's icy touch.

She turned her head and kissed Dracula passionately, feeling his body respond to her and hold her firmly. He exhaled heavily as he withdrew (all too soon for Erised) and then, she remembered. "They're outside…it's not safe for you here. Go. They'll be coming…"

"But they cannot save what is already mine."

"Then why don't you," Ari swallowed, so not to appear eager despite the truth. "Why haven't you taken it?"

"Because I want to beg for it." He answered coldly.

Ari inhaled again as she felt his fangs graze his skin. She longed very much to remain in his arms, to be still and wait…and realized she would do anything for it. "Please…Master."

"I bet she says that to all the boys." Gabriel remarked dryly as he entered. He waited for Dracula to look up before smirking proudly and leveling his crossbow on Dracula, aiming for his neck. "Howdy, partner."

"Ah the Knight comes to rescue the damsel." Dracula said, releasing Erised and moving to stand. He smiled at Gabriel, raising both his arms out in supposed surrender. "Well? Aren't you going to try to vanquish me, fair Knight? You have the title, might as well earn it."

"With pleasure." Gabriel said, and fired.

"No!" Erised screamed and jolted from the bed to run to Dracula.

"Erised, no!" Gabriel screamed.

He lowered the weapon but was too late, the arrow was hurtling towards Ari. Then, in an action that could have only been in a second, Dracula grabbed Erised and turned her, allowing the arrow impale in his shoulder blade. He winced from the impact but not the pain. As he turned, Dracula revealed Erised had her arms firmly around Dracula's neck, looking back at Gabriel.

"Don't hurt him." She pleaded.

"I'm not trying to hurt him. I'm trying to kill him, honey. Step aside.'

"No!"

Dracula looked up, smugly. "Well, isn't this a interesting turn of events."

"I say kill her." Irvan said slowly as he entered the bedroom. He was still holding his glass and leaned against the doorframe to sip his drink again. "It will save me from having to hear an endless amount inane flirting or bickering."

"Ah, Irvan…as lovely and endearing as I remember." Dracula said, happily. He tilted his head, arm around Ari's waist, to study the Vampire. "Such a magnificent creature you are but it is a shame I don't get you see in your sweeter form again." His eyes flickered to the door where Kuso and Isaiah had appeared. "And sadly your company hasn't improved."
"Michael!" Isaiah called, starting forward.

Kuso grabbed him back. "Not right now, whelp!"

Dracula was laughing now, he looked down at Ari and chided her playfully. "Look at the trouble you've caused, puppet. I don't think they're let us go quietly…"
"You think?" Gabriel retorted, looking back at the others. For a minute, he wasn't sure what Irvan was so upset it, but the glare on his face was legendary…and oddly familiar. He made a note to ask (read: tease) him about it later.

"I want to go." Ari whispered, clutching Dracula closer. "It hurts too much here."
"Angel, trust me, if you want to be Turned, you can get it done by someone who's far better looking then that." Kuso remarked, dryly. He had finally released Isaiah. "Besides, this one looks near tears."

"Why aren't you doing anything?" Isaiah demanded from Gabriel. "Aren't you suppose to be a hero?"

"Exactly what am I suppose to do?"

"Save her?"

"How?" Gabriel began to ask, then faltered. He met Kuso's eyes briefly, and then went back to Isaiah. Kuso narrowed his eyes and took a step forward, to be equal with Gabriel. Van Helsing nodded thinly. "Alright, I'll get her."

He turned, aimed and fired again, this time catching Erised in the leg. She screamed and fell down, collapsing. Isaiah would have killed him had Kuso not pulled him back, and throwing him in the direction of Erised. Now deprived of his human shield, Dracula reared up in time to defend against Kuso but not Gabriel who was following on his heels. Dracula threw a punch first at Kuso then tried to counter as Gabriel came about, grabbing his arm and twisting it. He cried out in rage, then jerked his arm free and using it to throw Gabriel across the room.

Kuso retaliated by sending Rene sprawling. He laughed from sheer enjoyment. "Just like old times!" He shouted to Gabriel, before grabbing Rene by the throat and pulling him up. "Come on, runt. You started this, finish it!"

"Gladly, when the time is right!" Rene shouted, as he threw off Kuso with one mighty swing. "Do you think I've learned nothing since our last encounter! But alas, this is not the time for it yet." He turned down, watching Erised with a sad smile. "Until next time, my warrior."

Now free of them, an unearthly cry came from him as he began to shift, turning into a sort of bat-like dragon. His hair became black and coarse with thick leathery wings that burst through his back. He released another earth-shattering howl before he rose and burst through the window to make his escape.

"Just like before." Kuso quipped. "The little runt ran at first sign of danger."

"We really need to kill that guy." Gabriel remarked dryly, rubbing the back of his neck and wincing from the pain. This Dracula may not be a willing fighter but he knew how to hurt a man. "I'm not in the mood to continue hunting much longer."

"Let him run." Isaiah looked up, and turned towards the hall. "Simon! Get Raze and the others, we're going…"

"No." Gabriel countered. "It's almost sunrise. You won't be safe."

"Since when do you care about our well-being?"

"I don't. Erised does." He said, shortly. "And if I'm not mistaken, you are trying to protect her as much as I am." He hated what he was about to say next. "So that makes us allies."

From his safe haven in the corner, Irvan snorted again. "Listen to you all. You're creating more problems then you already have making it over this woman." He looked down at Erised. "What is it exactly about her that makes you all so stupid?"

Kuso looked over and laughed. "You're just upset no one fought for you when you were sporting a dress."

Isaiah looked up, frowning. "Dress?"

"Was it red by any chance?" Gabriel asked suddenly, trying unsuccessfully to suppress a smile.

"Get back to saving your damsel." Irvan hissed, angrily.

"I'm no damsel." Erised said shortly. She stared at the arrow in her leg for a while before gripping it firmly and yanking it free. Her eyes began to water from the pain but she didn't make a sound. "And I sure as hell don't need saving."

"Ah-huh. We just saw that from your valiant display of discipline and courage." Irvan said. "What were you going to do? Nuzzle him to death?"

"Is that what you did in the dress?" She asked.

Kuso could see Irvan was getting frustrated and normally he would be all for a battle between Ari and Irvan but Gabriel was looking tired and if memory served, when Gabriel grew weary of things, Vampires tended to get shot at. "So how exactly on you planning to kill him?"

Ari's hand moved to her dagger, and for the first time Irvan said something that was useful for her. "That won't work." He told her in the tone most people used when correcting a wayward child. "The wood and the silver have no effect on him."

"What does then?"

"Crosses, holy ground, holy water all burn him but won't kill him." Gabriel supplied, watching as Ari pulled her wand and began to heal her leg. "Are you okay?"

"Trust me, I've been through worst." She shrugged off, rubbing her leg thoughtfully. "But never that."

"What?"

"I felt like I was under some spell, that's never happened before." She said softly looking down, clearly she was ashamed by her behavior.

"Kaga are immune to Vampiric pull." Isaiah said, looking up at Gabriel with a taunting gaze. "It's something in the Charms and Potions they're given as children to ward against outside influences."
"Coincidently," Kuso said with a wicked smile. "It also gives their blood a kick, that borders on euphoria when taken enough."

Gabriel smirked as he looked at Ari. "No wonder you're popular with the batboys. You get them high."

Ari shrugged again. "I was born with it." She said, simply. "So how do I kill Dracula?"

"You'd need to be a werewolf."

"What's that, Chuckles?"

"A werewolf." Irvan said again. "That's the only thing that was able to kill the first one. Since Rene seems to have the same powers, you'll have to use the same means."

"Where are we going to find a werewolf?" She asked, angrily. "The only pack that survived the Dark Lord's armies is allied to him. The Astor pack would never help us in defeating the Dark Lord's friend."

"But a rogue might." Isaiah said, looking up. "Ezra sent word to me a few months ago about a young wolf that had broken away from his pack. He asked me to assure the wolf was not to be harmed, something about him being to weak-willed to serve the pack in all means."

"Which means he probably didn't want to work for Voldemort." Ari said, nodding. "I know which one you're talking about. Dumbledore's been after him for weeks now, trying to get him to join the Order." She stood, wincing. "Come on, Gabriel. Let's go. I think we've put these fine gentlemen and Irvan through enough for one night."

"Going?" Gabriel asked. "Where?"

"I'll tell you on the way…"