Carl rubbed his eyes. No wonder he was tired, it was two in the morning. He turned to look at the others.

"Look, it's really late. If we keep going, we are going to tire ourselves out. I propose we head to bed and pick up first thing in the morning," he suggested.

Arene looked at him with concern.

"What if the brides come back while we are asleep?" she asked.

Carl took in her look and smiled.

"Don't worry. Now that we know that they can be affected by Holy objects, I would believe that if Nicola wore that cross to bed and drank a small bottle of Holy Water it would protect her," Carl said with confidence in his voice.

Arene smiled back.

"I'm glad to see you to are finally getting along."

Arene hugged her father and godfather and whished them a good sleep. Nicola did the same. Then Arene and Nicola headed off to her room as Carl and Van Helsing went to their chambers. They reached her room and quickly changed into their PJ's, (Arene had to loan Nicola a pair) and climbed into bed. Before Nicola went to sleep, she put on the cross and drank the small bottle of Holy Water.

"Careful," Arene said, "that stuff has a nasty aftertaste."

She finished the bottle, rolled over and covered herself with the sheet.

"Sleep well, mon cherie."

"Et toi mon amie," Arene whispered and rolled over.

But she could not fall asleep. Nicola had fallen asleep at once. Arene figured it had been the first time she had gotten a good sleep in a long time. She sat in bed and wrapped her arms around herself. She couldn't help but remember that feeling she had gotten back in the library. Suddenly, she felt it again in her room and a feeling of fear draped over her. She got out of bed to try to figure out what that feeling was and her eyes went to directly to the mirror by her bedside as she covered her mouth to hide her scream. A man was looking back at her. Someone she and Nicola knew... very well....

Although her hand muffled the sound she could not quite control the scream that welled up inside her.

At the sound Nicola shot awake and sat up in bed in fright.

"Arene, Arene, what's the matter!" she called out nervously.

Arene looked round at her friend then turned back quickly to the mirror. Nothing was there!

"It must have been a bad dream I guess," she said slowly as she stared at her own reflection in the glass.

"It wasn't...?" started Nicola in a worried tone.

"On no," replied Arene, realising what Nicola was asking, "it wasn't the brides!"

Arene moved slowly back towards the bed and climbed under the covers.

"What was it then ma chere," asked Nicola with concern.

"Oh nothing important - just my overactive imagination," said the other girl as light-heartedly as she could. "Let's get back to sleep. I'm sorry I woke you."

"Don't worry about it," Nicola told her before drifting easily back to sleep.

Arene could sleep though. She knew what she had seen. Dracula. She couldn't bring herself to tell Nicola that. She was sure it had just been a result of all that had happened that evening and there was no point in distressing her friend for nothing. After all - Dracula was gone.