Disclaimer: All I own in this is my friend's characters, nothing else is mine.

Chapter 12

Amie felt sick; she was having a nightmare, she had to be. Any second now she would wake up and find herself in a tent in the middle of the woods with Sarah sleeping safely beside her. She told herself this over and over again in the hours following Van Helsing's return.

Bob had been pacing in the foyer casting anxious glances at the large oak front doors. Amie was sat on one of the dark red sofas positioned in front of a fireplace that dominated the opposite wall. Her breathing had become nothing but dry gasps and she struggled against the impending panic attack. They were a usual occurrence for her, usually brought on by stress or fatigue, this one was driven purely by stress and Bob's pacing wasn't helping her much.

Carl had given her a brown paper bag of his own making and was talking calmingly to her as she breathed into it.

"I'm sure they're all fine." He was saying "Well maybe not totally fine, vampires are very strong I'm sure there will be some minor injuries but…" he stopped his rant as Amie's gasps increased and Bob came over to support her other side.

"Sorry, too much information." Carl muttered.

They had been gone almost two hours now the screaming in the village had not continued after they left but whether that was a good or a bad thing Carl couldn't say.

An awkward silence followed Carl's rant and Amie's breathing became less rapid. She lowered the bag and shut her eyes for a moment leaning against Bob for support. It was then that the doors were flung open and Van Helsing marched in followed closely by Jory and Chris. They all looked grim and Chris had blood on his shirt.

Bob and Carl jumped up and went to them immediately, Amie tried to do the same and realised it was not a good idea when black dots began to colour her vision. Groaning slightly she fell back down on to the sofa placing her head between her knees.

Carl went straight to Van Helsing, "Well?" he asked worriedly.

Van Helsing looked at his Friar friend. "Dracula's brides" he confirmed.

Bob went to Chris and Jory going pale at the amount of blood on Chris's shirt. "It's not mine" Chris said gloomily, "Old man, got dropped from one of the buildings."

He walked past Bob and went to see to Amie taking his shirt off along the way so she wouldn't see the blood.

"He had to help carry the body into the church" Said Jory silently, Bob shuddered.

"It was bad?" he asked carefully. Jory nodded.

"It was so fast. By the time we got there they were gone, and there were bodies just lying in the street." Jory's voice broke and he hurriedly wiped his eyes. Bob looked away giving his friend some privacy; it was then that he saw Marston helping the Princess up to the doors. He went to them and took the Princess's other arm.

She glared at him "I'm not a cripple" she said angrily. He smiled slightly and let her go, Marston did the same and they watched her limp through the doors.

"Twisted ankle" Marston muttered.

Bob sighed in relief. "So everyone's ok?" he asked. "Sarah's walking up with Tony?" he glanced down the road and saw only one figure making its steady way towards them. His throat constricted and he suddenly had trouble breathing. Fearfully he looked back at Marston the question clear in his eyes.

Marston looked back at him "They took her" he whispered.