The next morning the four of them gathered back in the library.

"I have informed the Cardinal of last night's events," declared Carl as Van Helsing gently shook his head. Carl always was one to follow the rules.

"He is most displeased and insists that we deal with this matter as swiftly as possible," the friar continued before shrugging his shoulders. "Frankly though I have no ideas. I was so sure the exorcism would work."

He looked so downcast that Nicola moved to console him.

"You did your best," she said, gently putting her arm around him, "and you weren't to know."

Arene looked at them and smiled. They were fast becoming good friends and she was pleased. She got the feeling that Nicola needed friends as much as she had done.

"There must be something," Van Helsing said suddenly, "something that can control them. Something that has power over them!"

"There was one once," said Nicola quietly, not realising that she was speaking aloud.

"What do you mean," asked Van Helsing, making Nicola jump as she came out of her reverie.

"I was just thinking that there used to be someone who could control them - my lord Dracula," she stated as she glanced quickly at Carl. She was worried about what he'd think of her continued love for her lord. She knew that Arene was the only one who really understood it.

"Oh my god!" exclaimed Arene. Suddenly it all made perfect sense. "I saw him last night."

"What?!" cried Van Helsing, Carl and Nicola at the same time.

"I felt something - like an icy chill - as I lay in bed. I got up and then I saw him looking at me from my mirror..." she broke off and glanced at her friend to see how she was taking it.

"Then you screamed," concluded Nicola. "Oh Arene why didn't you tell me?"

"I didn't want to upset you over what I thought was just a dream," she replied. "Only now I'm not so sure that it was a dream."

"Where are you taking this?" asked Gabriel warily.

"The writing on Nicola's back," Arene continued, "is not from the brides at all just as I suspected all along. It is from Dracula!"

"'I can return'," mused Nicola. "Do you really think it's possible?" she asked in a louder voice.

"That seems to be what he's suggesting," Carl said slowly as he thought it out, "He saying he can return and deal with his brides."

"No," shouted Van Helsing so loudly that all were silent and turned to look at him.

"To bring back such an evil monster," he continued, ignoring Nicola's cringe, "that is not even going to be considered. The Cardinal would never say yes to such a plan and for once I agree with him."

"But surely," Arene pressed, "we needn't bring him back forever - just temporarily till the brides are destroyed."

"It would be possible Van Helsing," Carl added before the Knight had chance to respond. "I have seen a spell of sorts - a ritual - in one of the books I've read."

"No," declared the Hunter firmly.