Diana hung up her black coat as her entered her small home, located just outside of Vatican City. She stuffed her gloves into a coat pocket, left her boots by the door, and immediately began to work on a fire. Once that task was completed and the fireplace was roaring, she curled up in front of it with a large warm blanket and a book filled with short stories and poems by Edgar Allen Poe.
The only thing about being home was getting a good night sleep, but when she wasn't sleeping or working, her mind wondered into the past, a place Diana never wanted to visit ever again. Van Helsing was lucky. He had no memory of his past for it to haunt him. Diana was constantly reminded of hers. Every time she got dressed, woke up, caught a glimpse of her reflection, and even read a book the people she had once known would creep into her head.
Diana had finally began to doze off when a loud knock on the door flung her out of her dreams and back to reality. Clumsily, Diana stood up and sauntered to her door.
"Who is it?" she called.
"It's Carl!" came the muffled reply.
Diana unlocked the door and invited the friar in. "What's wrong?"
"The Order has another assignment for us," he informed enthusiastically.
Diana groaned. "Already? They really should recruit more people for these jobs."
"Well, get your coat and lets go," Carl urged. After putting the fire out, Diana slipped on her black boots, coat, and gloves and follwed Carl to the church.
"It's five in the morning. Why are you so chipper?" she questioned the friar, rubbing her eyes.
"I had coffee before I came here," he replied, grinning pleasantly.
Diana rolled her eyes. "I see..." They walked into the grand cathedral, and Cardinal Jeanette was there to meet them.
"Come. There is not much time," the Cardinal commanded. Diana and Carl followed him down the sercret passage into the underground laboratory, where they met up with Van Helsing. "There are rumors in Spain of a murderer who seduces and drinks the blood of his prey," Cardinal Jeanette informed.
"Vampires?" Diana guessed.
"That was our first suspition," the elderly man replied.
"But they were all destroyed with Dracula," Van Helsing contradicted.
"Which is why we cannot jump to conclusions. This murderer may only be a crazed mad man," Jeanette continued.
Van Helsing crossed his arms. "So what are we going to do about it?"
The Cardinal smiled. "There is going to be a large Christmas party in Madrid. With all the people who will be attending it will be easy for the murderer to hide among the crowd and kill another person, maybe more. You are to leave tonight, find the murderer, and bring him back here."
Van Helsing nodded. "What are we waiting for?"
"I love parties!" Carl exclaimed.
"Wait a minute. Party, as in, I have to wear a gown?" Diana interrupted.
"Yes," Cardinal Jeanette anwered, with a smirk that said, "Sucks to be you," and walked away.
"Oooh. Diana gets to wear a fancy dress," Van Helsing taunted.
"Shut up," she muttered, pushing past him. "Get a move on. We've got people to save."
"Yes, madam," Van Helsing replied, following Diana, with Carl on his heels.