At the name 'Van Helsing' Arene stared at him in disbelief. No it couldn't be!
"But it is!!" exclaimed the Count, reading her thoughts. "It is very true – you are a descendant of the great Van Helsing," he declared, swinging his arms open dramatically and walking away from her.
Nicola stood a little way off. She was somewhat surprised at the information but didn't really take it in. All her attention was on her hunger and the strong heartbeat emanating from the younger girl.
Arene began to cry. So that was it. That was the secret that had been kept from her all these years. The reason they had moved so often. Dracula was always after her family and she was now the last of her bloodline.
"Not quite," Dracula assured her with an evil smile. "Gabriel still lives," he paused, enjoying her shock, "and yet – he hasn't come to save you has he? The last of his descendants is about to die yet he doesn't rush to your rescue – oh well!"
Arene watched as he moved towards Nicola and offered her his arm, preparing to lead her from the room.
"Come my dear," he said, "let us feed."
"What about her?" asked Nicola in confusion as she looked at the girl. She frowned as a faint memory stirred.
"I think we should give her a little more time to…appreciate…all she has learnt," he said, looking at the forlorn figure. "Tomorrow night there will be time enough to kill her."
This said he led the way out and Arene heard the lock turn in the door. She sat and hugged her knees, trying to take in all that had happened. She couldn't believe that her new friend was gone. There had to be a way to save her! Then what of Gabriel Van Helsing? Was he really alive? Perhaps he didn't know she was here. Would he care if her did? Surely he would! Yes – were he alive he'd help her. In the meantime she had to take care of herself. With this thought she pulled herself together and stood. At that moment she felt a hand on her shoulder and whirled round. A man stood there looking at her.
Upon reflex, Arene spun around and looked into the eyes of the man who had just touched her. She backed away at once, but something inside told her to stop.
"Hello Arene," he said gently. His voice seemed to soothe her as the final tear fell from her eye and hit the ground.
He was a tall man, perhaps a little taller than Dracula. He seemed to be slightly muscular and in good shape He wore a long black western duster and a grey turtleneck. He wore long pants and knee-high boots and was wrapped in leather. He wore a black vest with several charms dangling from the front pocket and a long scarf. He also wore a wide-brimmed hat and a bandana around the lower half of his face. He looked at her and pulled the bandana down though. His face was rugged and angular and he looked as though he had seen battle. His eyes were a deep brown colour, the same as his long hair. His lips were like hers, almost always there was a smile playing at the end of them. She stared at him in wonder, who was this man and why had he come to help her? She took a step closer and looked deeply into a his eyes, they seemed warm and comforting... as though she knew them.
"Who are you?" she whispered. "How do you know me?"
As soon as the door was shut, Nicola could feel another presence from within. It was like Arene's, only stronger and more powerful. She couldn't believe it, could it really be...
"Yes, my bride," Dracula whispered, a horrible evil smile was at the end of his pale lips. "It is he."
"You mean... he came to save her?" she asked, thinking that when her master had spoken earlier, this man was still in Rome or quite a way off
"Of course he came to save her, he would not leave her to die... but he is too late." Dracula hissed. Nicola could feel the victory within her master. She was about to keep walking, when Dracula held her back.
"Not yet, my love, just hold your hunger a few more moments and then you should be able to feast," he said, pulling her aside and kissing her passionately.
"But I thought you said we were going to feed?" she asked, kissing him back. Dracula's smile only increased.
"Oh, we will feed all right, but let us give them a moment to get reacquainted. It has been fifteen years after all since they have seen each other... Then you and I will feed... on the blood of both father and daughter."