Arene couldn't believe her eyes and looked round at Carl and her father. From their expressions she could tell that they had seen it too although Nicola remained oblivious, her eyes shut against her tears.

A bright light formed around the wound in Dracula's chest and was slowly spreading the length of his body.

All stood in silence as it burned brighter and brighter, engulfing Nicola in it's light.

The Count let out a gasp and his eyes snapped open. Nicola, hearing the sound, sat back in shock, unable to accept what she was seeing.

Dracula's wounds were healed and he sat up as if nothing had happened. More than that though his skin was no longer pale but had a healthy, rosy tinge.

"I can feel my heart beating!" he cried in wonder.

Arene ran forward, followed by Carl and Van Helsing.

"I don't believe it - he's human!" declared Arene as she looked down at her friend.

Nicola wasn't sure what to make of what was playing out in front of her. It must be a dream, she thought. I must have died back there after all.

Arene looked at the Count. This was impossible. How could he have returned to the living? It couldn't be - he must have killed her. Van Helsing's mouth dropped open.

"How.... how can this be? I thought he could never be brought back to life," he asked as he saw the same expression of confusion on Dracula's face.

"It's a miracle," Carl said softly to himself.

Suddenly, Arene's hand flew to her neck and pulled back. Her blood seemed to shimmer on her fingers.

"I did this," she whispered and the others all looked at her, confused.

"It's like what happened last time. Because I am the daughter of the archangel, my blood brought him back to life... along with the tears of Nicola's love," she continued in a voice of realization.

Nicola looked at her friend before standing up and walking over to her.

"I...don't know how to thank you," she whispered.

Arene shook her head.

"I didn't do this alone. Your love saved him, not mine." Arene felt strange. She wasn't sure what she should be feeling at the moment.

Nicola hugged her tightly, smiling. She then went over to her Lord who embraced her at once. Both seemed so happy. Carl, and even Van Helsing, couldn't help but smile. Arene looked at the couple and breathed a sigh, still unsure what she should be feeling. She turned her back on the scene and began to walk out of the room. As she left she began to realize why she felt this way. Now Nicola would go home with Dracula... and was it all right that she had brought him back to life? What did her family believe? She smiled sadly to herself and knew she needed some time to think. She pressed on a panel on the stone way and a walkway appeared.