"You!" Arene cried out, rising from her seat.

She stood there trembling as she stared at him. Rage welled up inside her as she watched a smirk spread across his face. She wanted to hurt him, cause him pain…anything.

"But there is so much more than that," Dracula continued as he rose and moved towards her, pleased to see her recoil. "You have no idea who your family were. I can give that information to you! Give you back you past!"

"Lies!" declared Arene suddenly as she stopped her retreat. She let out a laugh and looked back at her tormentor. "You're playing with my mind…but it won't work. You are wasting your time!"

"I would not like to you, Arene," Dracula said, a glint in his eye. "You can ask me anything you like."

"To win us to harm the instruments of darkness tell us truths," said Arene pensively, seeing the Count smile again. "Very well then," she continued, "what is it that you want with us; Nicola and I?"

"Ah Nicola – her I intend to offer everything she's ever desired. She will be my bride!" He paused a moment to enjoy Arene's outraged look. "As for you my dear," he continued, stepping close and cupping his hand under her chin, raising her head," that is a conversation for another time." With that he turned and left the room, shutting the door quietly behind him.

Arene stood there for a moment unsure whether or not to follow him. She decided in the end that it would be unwise. The night was well advanced. She should sleep. That way she would be refreshed for the coming day. She needed that time, when Dracula was incapacitated, to find a way to get herself and Nicola out of this castle!

Nicola lay in the bed, her arms up over her head. She had taken off the gown and now lay in a white slip that she had found laid out on her bed. As she lay there the door to her room opened carefully and a dark figure entered. Nicola lay in a deep slumber and remained unaware of this intruder. The figure moved to the bed and gently pulled back the sheets.

Dracula ran his hand along the length of her body, not quite touching her, then looked at her face. She had no belief in herself, he thought sadly. He would help her see her worth. He allowed his hand to stray to her hair, and then caress her cheek. He smiled as she murmured and pressed against his palm. He reached into her mind…

Nicola found herself in a moonlit street. She looked up at the night sky and stared at the beauty of the stars. "You are just as beautiful – you are my star, my dear." She turned and looked at the man who was advancing towards her. He was so handsome. His long, black, silky hair was pulled back into a ponytail and the gold of his earrings flashed in the moonlight. He was dressed all in black with a red sash across his chest. He approached and she lowered her eyes. She felt his hand under her chin as he raised her face till she was looking at him. She stared into his blue eyes. "Be in my eyes. Be in me." He leant in and kissed her. Her heart was racing and she felt something stir inside her that she'd never felt before. He broke away and she felt his lips on her neck followed by a sharp pain. That quickly went away though and was replaced by a feeling of joy and contentment…

Dracula pulled away and Nicola moaned slightly. He wiped his hand across his lips where a hint of blood remained. He had to be patient. It was not yet time for her transformation. He planted a kiss on her forehead and pulled the covers back over her before slipping quickly from the room.

Arene lay on a small red divan that was in the middle of the room. She dare not enter the other room and wake Nicola, not after what she had learned. She would need to warn Nicola in the morning. She would not let her friend become a servant this monster. She cringed as she could still feel Dracula touch her chin... that creature from Hell! He was the reason she was alone. None of her family had lived to tell of him... and now she was the last of her line... whatever line that was. She fingered the charm bracelet that was on her wrist and tried to think of a happier time. True, her father had left her before she was even a year old, and how she longed to know why, but her mother had loved her dearly. She grew up a kind hearted, unselfish child all because of her mother. She had loved her whole family, then one by one, they began to die, until only she and her mother remained. They travelled constantly, as if trying to escape something... or someone. Then one day when she was only ten years old, she returned home from school, only to find her mother dead. Arene began to cry at these memories. She turned on her side and slowly fell asleep. The sound of her tears hitting the pillow did nothing to soothe her.

Dracula watched triumphantly from the rafters as the child fell asleep.

"So innocent," he whispered. "So strong, so like her father."

That would change soon enough. True he had killed off her whole family... all but one. Yes, Gabriel was still alive, he could sense it. But even he would not be the one to tell her the truth. Dracula would make sure not only that he himself would tell Arene, but she would suffer every moment of it. Even if her father did come to help her and Nicola, it would not matter. He had won. He dropped down from the rafters and walked over to the divan where Arene lay. The fresh tears still lit her face. Dracula ran his fingers over her cheek, placing her in a deep sleep and reading her mind. He laughed slightly and nodded as he turned and opened the door to his own room,

"Go ahead, Arene, try to find your way out, you will not succeed."