Just then the door opened and Nicola entered the room. Both Dracula and Arene turned to look at her. She had a sort of glow about her this evening. She wore a different gown, blood red and had a black silk scarf around her neck. Dracula rose and held out his hand. She placed hers in it then he brought her fingers to his lips and blew gently on them. Arene just sat there gaping for a moment. Something was very wrong here.

"My dear, you look ravishing," the Count exclaimed gallantly. "If you will excuse me for a moment though ladies I will see about your supper."

Nicola's eyes followed him as he left the room then she turned to Arene with a winning smile.

"Arene, are you OK? You were going to do something today weren't you though," she paused and frowned as she thought," I can't remember what…"

"Nicola, what's wrong with you?" Arene asked cautiously. She had a pretty good idea what the problem was – it had just left the room – but she didn't want to alarm her friend.

"Oh nothing," the older girl replied. "I was so tired earlier but I feel much more refreshed now. I feel I could stay up all night!"

Arene tried not to show her alarm at this response. She watched her friend carefully. The young woman's hand kept playing with the scarf around her neck and at one point Arene thought she could see…no it wasn't possible…was it?

"Nicola, it's so warm in here. Why don't you take off that scarf?" she ventured, seeing alarm spring into the other woman's face.

"Oh, no I'm fine, really," Nicola stammered as she forced her hands together in her lap.

They sat in silence for a moment, neither looking at the other but then the door opened and their host appeared once more.

On leaving the room Dracula called to one of his servants and ordered another lavish feast for his guests. He then went to his chambers and sat on the edge of his coffin. Using his powers he easily entered Nicola's mind and was able to follow what was happening down in the library. He smiled. Arene was observant; like her father. The situation was an interesting one. His soon to be bride still retained certain feelings for the younger girl but at the same time she was his now. Her transformation had already begun. He had intended to let it happen gradually but now he changed his mind. He would make her his tonight. Over dinner in fact – with Arene there to watch. In preparation he put the thought into Nicola's mind that what she really wanted was some more of the lovely wine from the previous night. Not that it had been wine, not completely. A nice claret – with more than a little of his own blood mixed in. Silence fell between the two women and he decided it was time to return.

"My ladies," Dracula said, bowing, "your dinner awaits."

Nicola smiled at once and went to Dracula's arm. She turned back to look at Arene who just stood there. Something was wrong, Arene thought. She knew Nicola liked Dracula, but something was just not right.... that thought left her mind as her hunger reached her. She had been on her feet all day and was starving. She didn't want to eat in front of Dracula, to show him that she had given in, but she was starving and it would be a foolish idea to be weak against a vampire. She nodded and followed the two of them into the main dining hall. Once again, the table was covered in a lavish feast and Arene's hunger seemed to double. She assumed Nicola would be famished as well, but as she looked at her friend, she saw Nicola wasn't looking at the food, but at Dracula!

Nicola felt as though she could not have been happier. She felt stronger, prettier and happier than she ever had in her life! All this thanks to the man beside her. He was what mattered now, nothing else. She wanted to stay beside him... forever. She would be his for all time. He ran a hand through her hair and she smiled, it was as if he could read her thoughts. He kissed her throat and whispered,

"By tonight, my love, you and I will be together forever."

For a second, it seemed as if the world stood still and she could feel his teeth upon her neck. There was one small feeling of pain... and then nothing except happiness. Time seemed to return and she shook her head. Arene came beside her.

"Nicola? Are you okay?" she asked, her voice soft.

"Yes, I'm fine," she said happily, looking down at her friend.

Something's really wrong, Arene thought. This wasn't the Nicola she knew. Her skin had become so pale and her eyes seemed brighter... as though they could change colours. Her lips had become a blood red and her fingernails seemed to grow longer. Arene knew Dracula had something to do with this, there was no other explanation, but... as long as Nicola was in danger, she could not make a move. Dracula smiled evilly at the other girl. Arene simply avoided his eyes, as she did every time.

"Please, have a seat, my dears," he said as he took a seat at the head of the table. Nicola and Arene sat either side of him. Arene noticed that a very nice soup had been put out as an appetiser. It was her favourite meal. She sighed and began to eat very slowly. She couldn't help but notice Nicola and Dracula were not eating. They both had a glass of wine and were talking about something; she couldn't hear it.

Nicola felt as though she could have talked all night, it was magical. She had never been with someone she loved so much. She didn't notice that she barely had any hunger tonight, but extreme thirst. She just continued on the glass of wine she had in her hand. There was something about it that was so wonderful. She gazed lovingly into the eyes of the man next to her. How wonderful he was.

Arene tried not to act too suspicious about all this, but it was hard not to. She had just put down her spoon and was about to reach for a roll, when her eye fell upon the ring Dracula wore on his finger. She looked at it thoughtfully. She had seen it before; she knew she had. Dracula could read the girl's thoughts in an instant. He smiled at Nicola and motioned he would only be a moment. He turned to the girl.

"You admire my ring, my dear?" he asked, moving his hand closer. The insignia reflected in Arene's blue eyes.