Nicola
looked at her lord with a worried expression. If he was on edge then
something really must be wrong. She followed him, her hand in his, as
he led the way to the room where their daughters lay sleeping.
"They
must fed!" he declared as he released her hand and moved into
the room.
He went to the nearest girl and shook her gently
awake.
"Wake now, my child, you must take the others to
the village and feed," he stated as the girl opened her eyes and
looked at him with a sleepy expression. Seeing her parents though
soon jolted her awake and she smiled happily as she went round the
room, waking the others. Soon they all stood there smiling at Dracula
and Nicola, waiting patiently.
"My children, I want for
you to be strong," said Dracula, as he gazed with pleasure at
his young. "Go now all of you and feed but make sure you are
back here before first light. We cannot accompany you as we have
something to deal with here but Kate will lead you." As he said
this he gestured to the girl he had first wakened and she beamed with
pride.
Nicola watched as the girls flew from the castle and a
feeling of pride came over her too. She was their mother now after
all. She returned her attention to her lord.
"What is
wrong, what has happened?" she asked with concern.
"I
am not sure yet, my bride," he answered as he looked after his
children. "It is time we disposed of this Arene though!"
Nicola
was saddened for a moment but forced herself not to think of it. She
had tried to help the girl but it was too late now. There was no one
to save her young friend.
Nightmares
plagued Arene's dreams that night; nightmares of death and pain. She
knew that Dracula would kill her soon and there was no one to hear
her screams. She whimpered a little and tried to make the bad dreams
disappear but they only got worse. Then she could hear a sound, it
didn't wake her but it seemed so real...
The man walked slowly
into the room, trying his hardest to not wake the young girl. His
gaze fell upon her and a soft smile came to the corners of his lips.
He knelt beside her and gently stroked her hair, she whimpered and
pulled away, but his touch only became softer and no longer
frightened her. He took her hand in his and brought it to his face,
trying to comfort her. The twinge of guilt ran through him again.
Suddenly, the door creaked open. For fear of being seen, he jumped up
into the rafters, waiting for the right moment to strike...
Arene
opened her eyes and looked around for the man in the dream. She was
almost certain he had not been another illusion created by her past.
He had been real and he was here to help her.
"Please!"
she begged. "Come back! Don't leave me...Everyone has left me,"
she added in a softer voice.
Just then the door opened and
Dracula and Nicola entered. Nicola's face had a look of pain and
sadness but Dracula's face was covered with triumph and power. He
gestured for Arene to look out the window. Arene looked out, only to
see the other girls as vampires, feasting on the town. She shook her
head, not daring to believe what she was seeing.
"No...."
she mouthed.
"You failed, Arene," the Count said,
coming closer. "I have finally created my family and you..."
he gestured for Nicola to join him, his fangs dropping from there
positions, "...I finally feel the pain your family has built up
for 500 years!"
Nicola reluctantly moved to join her lord, allowing her fangs to extend. Just then something caught her attention. A movement from above her. She glanced at Dracula but he was too busy enjoying the moment and hadn't seen it. She looked up and saw a figure above them in the rafters. She didn't dare glance at Arene in case the girl alerted her lord to the intruder by looking up too. She really wasn't sure she believed what she was seeing - it looked like Van Helsing!
