The ride itself did not take long at all. Though time held no bounds for Van Helsing, since all he could do was mutely stare at Anna. How was it possible that she was alive, and her brother as well. He still remembered the fury in her eyes after she had seen her brother breath his last. How she had come at him ready to do anything and recoiled when she saw what had been done.

He closed his mind to the memories. It shouldn't be, but it was. Before him rode Anna, alive and healthy. Happily reunited with her brother. For some reason he did not want it to change. For a moment he felt fear, fear that this was all a dream and that he would wake up to the dark reality.

Anna looked back on her friend and saw the clouded look in his eyes. How could he have forgotten? After all they had saved Valkin and him in one night, and she herself had heard him vow his love to her. Yet he seemedso forlorn, as though he thought this was all a dream. Deep inside her she felt a strange pain of regret. She had been feeling this pain for a long time now and didn't understand where it had come from. Looking over to Valkin she saw a troubled look come upon his face as well.

Suddenly the horses realed under their riders. Van Helsing, Anna, and Valkin managed to stay on but Carl was not so lucky. As he was thrown from his horse he felt a strange glimmer of excitement before meeting the ground. Van Helsing who had managed to control his steed paced towards him and called out, " Carl, are you alright?"

" Oh, yes, very well indeed," muttered the monk as he stood up. Glowering at Van Helsing's amused smile he added, " After all it's not everyday one falls over a horse."

Laughing at the remark Van Helsing grasped Carl's hand and hoisted him on top of his own horse. Anna watched the entire episode with a knowing smile. Van Helsing looked back at her and his smile grew wider.

Carl seeing his friend's joy apprehensivly whispered, " Be careful, Van Helsing. For all we know this is the source of the disappearances."

Van Helsing looked back angrily at Carl and said, " Anna! How dare you say such a thing!"

" I'm just saying we should keep an open mind," replied Carl earnestly. Van Helsing looked angrily at him then back to Anna. Sadly he nodded his head.

" We should be getting to the castle," interupted Valkin impatiently, " The wolves we'll be out soon."

Anna nodded towards her brother and took off on her horse. Valkin and Van Helsing (with Carl) followed. After an hour of riding the castle towers gleamed in the distance.


" This is where you will be staying," said Anna as she led Van Helsing into a large, foreboding room.

" Not exactly meant for comfort is it?" he jokingly commented as he picked up a lose weapon from the writing desk.

" It used to be my father's study," replied Anna, " He moved in the bed for when he fell asleep researching..."

" It is over now, Anna," replied Van Helsing seeing her distressed look.

" I know," she replied sadly, " But that does not change the lose."

" Nothing ever will," he said softly.

Anna looked back at him. He had his own way of dealing with everything around him. The fact that he lived a life with no memories made even more difficult to understand him. He seemed alone to the world and yet he understood it so well.

Van Helsing also began to look at Anna. She was so beautiful, even in the grimmest looking place. Again, though, he saw a change come over her. A change that made her seem as though she were in a trance.

" Anna,"he began taking a step towards her.

"No," she replied raising her hands, " I must attend to something."

Swiftly she left the room. VanHelsing could only stare out the doorway and then quietly walked to the bed. Sitting down he took a swift look around the room. Slowly he began to withdraw his gun. A noise fluttered against the shadows. It sounded like someone breathing. Someone was watching him and they drewcloser. Reaching behind him he grabbed a thin arm an pulled.Something tumbled into the bed beside him and he jumped. Gun trained he stopped before shooting a young girl withdark, powerful eyes.


Elsewhere in the castle Anna entered a dark room. Silently she took her place beside her brother and listened for the words of the master. Overhead a soft voice whispered," Is all ready?"

" Yes, my lady," Valkin and Anna replied in unison.

" Good. I shall have my werewolf soon," said a voice from the shadows. Slowly a withered old woman appeared. Carefully she handed Anna a box.

"Give it to him tonight," said the mysterious voice, "Tonight in his meal."

"Yes, my lady," replied Anna