Disclaimer: I own nothing, this is all just my twisted imagination.

Chapter 49

Marston cocked his head to one side scrutinising the large tapestry that dominated the main wall of the foyer. Behind him Sarah paced in front of the fireplace wringing her hands in frustration, Amie watched her from the sofa.

"You're making me dizzy could you at least change direction or something?"

Obligingly the vampire walked towards the far wall and began to walk vertically up it, her hair dangled towards the floor as she reached the ceiling and continued forwards until she had crossed the room and made her way down the far wall to begin again. Amie watched her do this several times.

"I take it back, do the first one again." She groaned rubbing her eyes.

"Hey Sarah, who's the guy right at the top of this family tree?" Marston asked gesturing to a small name at the top.

"Valerius the Elder." She answered impatiently.

"No, there's two names under his, one's Demetri but the others blotted out."

"That'd be Dracula's."

Marston stared at her in shook. "No way!! It can't be, he's the son of the devil!"

Amie frowned "Anna's related to the devil?"

For the first time in hours Sarah smiled, leaping down from the wall she settled next to the sofa.

"He wasn't the son of the devil then. That was before he was murdered."

"So he's related to Anna? Like her great, times-a-thousand, uncle?"

"Times nine."

Amie grinned "So since your Dracula's wife, doesn't that make you Anna's great-great-great-great-great-great-great…great aunt?"

Sarah sighed rubbing her face wearily, irritated by the pointless conversation, the bloodlust burning so strong she thought she would scream.

"I don't know how much longer I can take this, I have to get out of this house it's giving me cabin fever!" standing abruptly she marched over to the main doors.

Marston unconsciously backed away from her his hand drifting worriedly to the knife at his hip.

If she noticed she didn't let it show, her eyes shone with an unnatural purple light and her skin had suddenly turned a distinct grey.

Van Helsing entered the hall casually and knew instinctively that something was wrong, hurrying forward he blocked her path to the doors. Sarah nearly walked into him, even when she stopped it took her a few moments to focus on the man scowling at her.

"I don't think you want to go out there." He said calmly.

"I'm just going for a walk." She answered surprised by his hostility towards her.

"No your not." He said sternly.

"I'm not allowed to go for a walk?" she questioned frowning. Van Helsing turned around and pointedly bolted the door.

Sarah began to seethe with silent anger. "What's wrong with me leaving the manor?" she asked her tone neutral as she fought to remain calm.

Van Helsing met her icy stare. "I don't think it wise." He answered evenly.

"And suddenly your word is law?" she challenged her voice rising. "I've been stuck in this place for over a week! It's driving me crazy! All I want is five minutes outside."

She pushed past him and reached for the bolt, only to find him once again blocking her way. The girl stared at him in disbelief.

"I can't let you do that." He said his face set.

Sarah stepped back her expression one of anger and betrayal. "So that's it…you're finally admitting I'm a prisoner here?" Van Helsing winced at her choice of words.

"You're not a prisoner." He said his voice rising slightly. Sarah glared at him.

"Not all cages have iron bars Gabriel…you know that."

Van Helsing calmed himself and looked at her sincerely "What happens when you leave this manor?" he questioned reasonably. "You put yourself and everyone in that village at risk. Is it really worth that?"

"If I stay here I'm putting you at risk! I'm starving and it's tearing me apart inside! I need blood and I don't know how long I can fight it!" she screamed at him desperately. "I don't even know if this is me or the vampire talking, all I know is that I need to get away from you and from them!" she pointed to where her friends were watching, Marston and Amie refusing to meet her gaze.

Van Helsing sighed rubbing his forehead wearily. "How long can you hold out?" he asked.

"A few hours, maybe less." She answered immediately.

He nodded thoughtfully "You stay inside the manor. I'll see if I can get you something, there must be something alive in those woods."

The girl almost sagged with relief her internal torture lessened somewhat. "Thank you." She whispered.

She turned slowly and walked towards the door her head down as she passed her friends.

Amie reached out and grasped her shoulder gently. "Can we do anything?" she asked with concern.

Sarah met her concerned gaze. Her eyes flashed purple as the hunger rose up within her again.

Quickly she stepped out of her hold "Just…stay away from me." She begged.

Amie's hurt expression stabbed at her as she turned and ran towards the far tower.

Carl jumped as the door to the tower burst open and slammed against the wall. Sarah rushed in and crossed to a panel on the far wall.

The friar watched in fascination as she began hitting it repeatedly. When nothing happened she cursed and crossed to the next one repeating her bizarre behaviour.

"Come on!" she exclaimed angrily as once again nothing happened.

Carl stood from his pile of books and crossed towards her nervously. "Er exactly what do you hope to achieve by this?" he enquired.

Sarah didn't look at him as she crossed to the next wall. "In the movie, clues about how to kill Dracula were hidden in this room, behind a secret panel." She explained. "If I can find it we can figure this all out."

Carl watched her with sympathy as she desperately searched every inch of the room. He sighed as she finally knelt on the floor in defeat.

"Van Helsing and I have searched every inch of this room, every crack, every tapestry…every panel. There's just nothing here." he said regretfully.

Sarah looked up into his sincere face and nodded regretfully, leaning her head against the cool wood at her back.

"You know what Carl I think your right…I wish you weren't though." Carl nodded in understanding crossing back to the ancient texts littering the bed that he was using as a desk.

Sarah stood and studied him for a moment. "You know there is a perfectly good writing desk over there." She said indicating to the oak table across the room.

Carl looked at it slightly abashed, as he hadn't noticed it before. Sarah smiled as he began to stammer.

"Ah, yes well…it was simply not big enough for my work load." He announced hurriedly returning to his work.

The girl shuddered slightly as another excruciating wave of hunger assaulted her body.

Gritting her teeth against the pain she forced herself over to the desk where a pile of old scientific journals lay scattered on the wooden surface. Forcing herself to concentrate she began to leaf through them trying to find some kind of clue that might help her friends get back to their own world, she was under no illusions that she would be going with them.

No she was bound to this world now until Dracula died or Van Helsing took it upon himself to kill her, this was her life.

A feeling like an electric shock shot through her body and she cried out slightly. Carl looked up sharply but then returned to his book when she nodded that she was ok.

The hunger returned with vengeance making her body begin to spasm with need. Sarah fought to concentrate on the book in front of her and was getting increasingly frustrated.

Her hands were shaking so badly that she couldn't even turn the page. Carl watched her apprehensively from behind a large pile of books.

"Are you alright?" he asked carefully.

"I'm fine!" she snapped, her voice strained. She gritted her teeth against the sound of his heartbeat tantalisingly close, her hunger was incredible, maddening! She was like a junkie who needed a fix.

"You don't look fine." The friar said concerned.

As he watched Sarah shut her eyes and her whole body began to tremble violently, her skin was as white as marble.

"Carl, get out!" she yelled suddenly.

He froze and began to edge his way towards the door. "I'll just get Van Helsing shall I?" he said nervously making a grab for the door handle.

Sarah stood suddenly, sending the desk and the many books on its surface flying. Carl gave a terrified squeal as he found himself pinned against the wall, his arms painfully caught in her cold iron like grip.

Luminous purple irises had replaced the usual deep blue of her eyes and long fangs protruded out of her mouth.

She blinked suddenly, concern and regret flashing in her eyes. Slowly her grip relaxed and she set him on to the floor shaking. He watched her bring her hands up to her face feeling the fangs there.

"God Carl… I'm sorry…I can't fight it like this…the hunger makes it stronger." She stammered tears slipping down her white skin.

Carl was still in shock clutching his bruised arm against his chest. With one last sorrowful look at him Sarah crossed to the large French windows of the tower, opening them she leapt into the night.

Carl got to the window and saw her flying towards the distant village. "Van Helsing! Anna!" he yelled rushing from the room.