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!