"You have no reason to hide up here! You have done well my child," said the Cardinal as he stepped onto the roof to join Arene who looked up at him in surprise.

"You are not the only one to know the secrets of this place," he explained as he went to her side.

"I am scared," confessed Arene, "of what I've done, what I might do. Was it right to make Dracula human? What is my place in this world?"

"For you, as with your father," the man answered, "this is all a test of faith...and I believe that you have passed." He paused to let her take this in before continuing.

"You have done a great thing this night. You have saved a soul that was damned and brought peace and happiness to so many people. You belong here with us Arene and I think that you will do even greater things as you gain knowledge and experience."

"Amen," whispered Arene as a single tear trickled down her cheek.

"Come, the others will be looking for you," he declared and together then went back into the building.

As they left the secret passageway the others came running up, led by Van Helsing.

"Arene, are you all right," asked Nicola with concern.

Before Arene could answer she found herself caught in a pair of strong arms and was surprised to find that they belonged to Dracula. He kissed her chastely on the cheek and his eyes spoke volumes.

"Thank you," he said simply as he released her and stepped back.

"Cardinal," said Van Helsing as he spotted the leader of the Order, "what is going to happen to Dracula now?"

The Count and his bride clung closely to one another as they waited to hear their fate.