Nicola smiled and led Carl and Van Helsing into the dining room, arm in arm with her husband. For the second time that day, neither man could imagine the piles of food that were set before them. Dracula smiled.

"I usually have at least ten or twenty people over, so this is new for the cook."

Van Helsing nodded. "I understand."

They sat down and began to eat in a slightly quick manner. After a moment, Nicola spoke up.

"I was able to find the location of Jekyll's home. It's not too far from here, on the second floor of a small Victorian house. His office and laboratory are also located there. Apparently, it has been abandoned for almost 100 years. No one touched it after his death in 1888."

Van Helsing lowered his eyes. That was how it had all begun, back at Notre Dame. When he had killed Jekyll. Had he brought him back, Jekyll might be a good man and his dear Arene would not be suffering.

"I take it he sold his soul as well?" Carl asked.

Nicola shrugged. "I'm not sure, but it looks like that. The sooner we find him the better..." She looked at Carl, almost scared to ask. "How much time to we have?"

Carl took a deep breath and bit his lip. "We were told seven days, that was almost two days ago."

"We are running low on time," the Count said. "We must hurry."

The Cardinal sat by the young girl's side, watching her deep, pained breaths. He closed his eyes sadly. This was not right. This child should not have to suffer. He put his hand to her forehead and pulled back at once; she was on fire. The fever and shivers were uncontrollable. It had been a horrific past two days. Arene had not been able to eat anything and even if she did, it would cause her to throw up. She had slept most of the time, but her dreams were so horrible, she would wake up screaming and crying. He touched her arm and tried not to cry.

"Don't worry, my child. Your father, your friends, they will help you... Dear Lord let them pull through."

"Listen Gabriel," Dracula said after a moment, "you won't like this but you have to trust me – before we attack I think I should go and see how things stand there."

"I'll go…" Gabriel began but he was cut off as his old friend raised his hand.

"No – if he sees you it's over. He won't recognise me!"

Gabriel couldn't speak so he just nodded. Vladislaus was right. He watched him go with mixed feelings. He wished it was all over and the suffering of his child could end.