Nicola stayed where she was as Arene had told her. She was so confused. What had happened back there? Had she really been bitten? Her hair hung over her neck, covering it, but she reached up and gasped as she felt the two small puncture wounds there. As she brought her hand away a hint of red glistened on her fingertips. God! Part of her wanted to be worried, wanted to leave this party, but something stopped her. It was as if her will was not her own. She could not bear the thought of leaving. No it wasn't that...not leaving the party but leaving HIM. She couldn't, she knew it. Arene seemed to be immune somehow to the spell he was weaving over the others. She needed to find the other girl and ask her for her help. She looked around. Arene had told her to stay put...but still...if it was Arene she was going to, surely there was no harm in that. She saw a chair nearby and carefully stepped up onto it, lifting the bottom of her black dress away from her feet. She scanned the room. Finally she saw her. She was in trouble. She was with the Count and she was in trouble. Nicola scrambled down and rushed across the room, pushing past anyone in her way. As she reached them Dracula stepped in front of Arene and Nicola had to stop herself from falling forward onto him.
"Ah, my dear," the voice rang in her head, "there is nothing for you here. I have many plans for you. Perhaps you should come with me. Would you like to dance?"
Nicola nodded. All capacity for speech had left her and she couldn't stop staring into his eyes. So deep. She felt she could drown in them....

Arene tried to break free from the servant who held her.
"Nicola, don't go with him!" she screamed, but Nicola wouldn't...no, couldn't hear her. Dracula's hold on her was too strong. He took her hand and led her onto the dance floor; she seemed so happy. She wanted to be with him. Arene struggled with all her might, trying to get away. She had to help her friend. She turned back to the servant.
"Say good-bye to your friends," he hissed. "Your the only one who knows the truth... my master has special plans for you."
"THAT DOES IT!" Arene screamed, turned back and kicked the guy right in the crotch! She shoved the guy backward against the wall and pinned him there.
"Now, you're gonna tell me what's happening here, why the count invited us and why I'm immune to all this!!" she said as harshly as she could.
"Give me a good reason!" he hissed.
Arene pulled a knife off a nearby table.

"How about three?!?"
The man nodded.

"Okay, ever since my master lost his brides and daughters he has been in a horrible state. Until... he found out about your little club. He invited all of you here and cast a spell over the place, enabling him to gain control over all of you. I saw no reason in it, you're all head over heals for him! Before the night is over, every girl will be under his control and either his daughter, wife or love slave! And there won't be anything you can do about it!"
"Why am I immune?" Arene asked, knowing she couldn't take anymore time. Nicola was in danger. "What does he want with Nicola?"
"Your name keeps you immune. Your LJ name, gabrielsangel, reflects Van Helsing and your real name Arene means "Holy one", but you will still serve my master."
"Over my dead body! What about Nicola?"
"She was the first, just like Verona, she will be his queen!"
Arene hit him over the head, knocking him out. She stood there for a moment. Oh God, Nicola was in danger! She ran out of the room and saw Dracula dancing on the dance floor. The others were looking at him, falling more under the spell. She raced to Dracula and grabbed his shoulder, spinning him around.
"Alright, you, let Nicola...go?"
Only Nicola wasn't there anymore, she had disappeared.
"What did you do with her?"