Black doggie disclaims: I do not own the character…although I wish I did…

Gabriel Van Helsing scoured the room, which had once belonged to Count Dracula. There was nothing but opulence everywhere he looked. Unfortunately, none of that was of great importance to Gabriel. The Order had made it clear they wanted him to find Dracula and any remaining vampire. Gabriel wished that Dracula had been careless enough to leave something that would set him on the right track to the others of his kind. That was wishful thinking, of course. Dracula was as methodical as he was ruthless. Hide all evidence of vampiric encounters. Hide all evidence of a vampiric banquet.

Behind him, the door opened and Carl entered. He had a haggard look as if he hadn't been sleeping, which was exactly the case. "Gabriel, let's go have some food at the inn. I'm famished. And then after that, we'll get some rest and then we can resume our work."

Gabriel turned to him, "You go ahead, Carl. I just need one last look around."

"You sure?"

"Yes, friar." He answered, picking up a book on the table.

Carl shrugged. Gabriel must be coming on to something, Carl thought. Well, I hope it'll help us one way or another. Silently, he closed the door behind him and left.

When he heard the click of the door, Gabriel glanced behind him and sighed. He did want to eat but something pushed him to stay. A gut feeling told him he was close to something. Very close.

Thud.

"Ah, shit!" Gabriel exclaimed when his knee hit the leg of the table. In the process, he had dropped the book. He was rubbing his knee when something glittered and caught his eye. He bent down and smiled.

"Gotcha!"

"Beer, sir?"

"A pint please."

The innkeeper nodded and waddled to the kitchen. Carl sat back and sighed. How long were they going to stay in this forsaken town? Well, as long as it takes until they find some clue that would lead them to other vampires. Sure, when Dracula died, all those he had made would die too but what about the smart guy who made Dracula? Would he die too? Carl and the Order didn't think so. By now, that guy would have made hundreds of vampires. It was up to Gabriel and him to destroy them all. That is if they can find any clues to their whereabouts.

He looked around. He had chosen this table for a good reason. He could see who came and left the inn. He could see the barmaid doing her rounds. It was nearly sunset but there was still enough light outside. Vampires wouldn't be out, not yet anyway. Beside him, a group of farmers burst into raucous laughter.

Carl smiled. At least they felt happy and safe. He wondered if these people knew how hard they worked to keep monsters off their backs, how long Carl stayed up to make the perfect arsenal, how dedicated Gabriel was to the Order's cause.

I know, Carl.

He jumped in his skin. Where had that voice come from? He looked around, trying to put a face to that voice. It was a lovely contralto and it sent shivers down his spine. Only two people would have that voice. One was a middle-aged woman going up the stairs but she was too far away to say something that only he could hear. Then there was suspect number two. She was a young woman, no older than twenty, talking to the mistress of the inn. She wore a coat with lavish fur trimmings over a red velvet traveling dress. Her hair was down up in a tight chignon with a few ringlets framing her face. Beside her was a younger woman about eighteen. She too was in rich traveling clothes with a bonnet on her head. Dark curls tumbled down to her shoulders, a beautiful contrast to her pale skin. The younger woman was frowning, probably impatient to get to her room or probably disgusted that they would have to sleep in a dingy inn. The older woman nodded and handed the inn mistress a bag of coins. She took the younger woman's hand and led her towards the stairs.

We'll see each other soon, Carl. Very soon, I hope.

He got up and started to walk towards them. They were already climbing up the stairs when the younger woman turned to him. Then she smiled.

The smile turned into a grin. And that was when he saw the fangs.

Fangs.

He ran towards them but they had already disappeared around a corner. Carl looked around. To wait for Gabriel or to go ahead and have a chat with them. He fingered the crucifix that hung around his neck. There was a canister of holy water in his pouch and somewhere in his vestment were two stakes. On one hand, he could take them on in broad daylight. He looked at the setting sun. Two vampires in broad daylight! What madness! He had better wait for Gabriel. If the sun had not killed them, he doubted a stake through the heart would.

"Sir, is anything the matter?" The mistress of the inn asked.

"Uh, Mistress, could you please tell me which room those two women just now have taken?" He asked politely.

"Oh, them princesses! They've taken the best room in the house. It's on the third floor, the last door on your right, sir."

"Thank you, Madam."

Before she could reply, Carl was out of the door. Where was Gabriel when he needed him? He scanned the crowd for that infamous figure. Suddenly he bumped into someone who let out an expletive.

"I am sorry!" Carl stammered as he faced the man. "Van Helsing!"

Gabriel looked at him, "What are you doing bumping into people? And why are you looking like you've seen a ghost?"

"I have seen a ghost!" He blurted out, "Dracula's ghost in the form of two women!"

"What in the world are you talking about? Have you had too much to drink?"

Carl stopped to catch his breath, "Two vampires are here."

"Two?" Gabriel's eyes widened. "Where are they? Where did you see them?"

Between breaths, Carl recounted what had just happened to him. "They're upstairs, Gabriel."

"Well, what are you waiting for?" Gabriel patted his back and dashed into the inn.

Carl shook his head. Had Gabriel been listening to him? There was something about those two vampires. If the sunlight didn't kill them, what will? Muttering, he followed Gabriel into the inn and up the stairs.

"Which room?"

"There." He pointed to the last door on their right.

Gabriel took out two silver stakes and crept down the hallway. Two vampires in the open. Gabriel wondered if they knew anything about Dracula. Then he remembered the ring he had found in the Count's room. Well, he'll just tell Carl about it later.

He stopped just outside the door. When he was sure that Carl was close enough to give back up, he kicked the door and entered with Carl following suite. He stopped in his tracks. He was prepared to kick the vampires to hell but he wasn't prepared for the sight before him. There were seven people sitting around a blazing hearth.

Each one of them was a vampire.

They were dressed in recent styles, cut and tailored in the best of velvets and silks. Among them, Carl could see the two women he saw a while ago. They all turned to him but they weren't shocked; they had been expecting him. They were beautiful, even the four men looked too pretty to be real. Girlish curls tumbled down the sides of their faces, which were pale with a tinge of pink on the cheeks. One had the curls tied back with a black satin ribbon. It seemed he was the leader among the seven. He held himself proudly but there was a playful smirk on his face.

Carl turned to the door and tried it but even though it was unlocked, it held fast. He tugged but it wouldn't open. He turned to Gabriel and there was a hint of panic in his eyes.

"Please," The one who had his hair tied back said, "Don't be frightened." He came forward and gave his hand, "Gabriel Van Helsing, right? And you must be his comrade, Carl, from the Holy Order."

Gabriel nodded and gingerly shook his hand, "I am."

"I think this shocks you, maybe it even horrifies you." He swept his arm to mean the scene before them, "I think you are used to seeing the younger ones." He took his place among the six. "I am Einar. They are Ami (a red head, Carl observed), Druce (he looked like Einar's twin or at least his brother) and Morgan (he had Arab features)." He said as he pointed to the other men. Then he proceeded to introduce the women, "And they Alyanna (a little girl not more than ten), Cerys (the older woman Carl had seen) and Lia (the younger woman)."

"I don't think he knows about us!" Alyanna spoke glancing at him.

Gabriel forced a laugh, "Yes, I don't think I know any vampires other than Dracula and his brood."

"Vampire indeed." Alyanna muttered, turning away.

Gabriel was about to answer when Carl, intercepted him. "Younger ones? You said something about younger ones. Do you mean that there are…older ones?"

Lia laughed along with the others. "Do you really think that Dracula is the oldest? That he is the seed that gave birth to all other vampires? Dear me, was has the Order been telling you!"

"So there are older ones?" Gabriel asked; his interest and curiosity piqued.

"There are! Far older than you can imagine!" She answered, looking sideways at the others, "Even they have forgotten how old they are."

"But the elders," Gabriel started, "Do they allow such slaughters as what the Count has done?"

There was an awkward silence. The seven vampires glanced at each but Carl noticed that Cerys kept her eyes on the floor. It was as if Gabriel had touched on something they were not willing to talk about, most of all Cerys. But then she stood up and took Gabriel's arm.

"Tonight we go to the Count's palace. If you have nothing else to do, you may come with us and we will answer your questions. At least those that we feel can be answered."

"We will go." Gabriel stammered, glancing at Carl.

"But first you must eat." Cerys said.

"Thank you but I have already eaten." Carl said.

"Your friend hasn't." She pointed out before pulling a cord that hung from the ceiling. "Please, dine to your heart's delight and let not our presence curb your appetite."

The others were ushered by Ami into an adjoining room. Gabriel was led to a seat next to the fireplace. Carl sat opposite him. Cerys followed the others into the room and closed the door.

Carl turned to Gabriel and there was murder in his eyes. "What are you doing? Going to the Count's place with seven vampires! Have you gone completely insane?" He burst out.

"Don't be an ass!" Gabriel retorted.

"Well, then, how do you suppose you can fight seven vampires?"

"I've fought hundreds before!"

Carl rolled his eyes, "Not all in one go!"

"Yes I know but fighting Dracula was like fighting a hundred all at once!" He glanced at the door through which the vampires had disappeared, "Besides, I don't think they're going to do any harm."

"How do you know?"

Gabriel shrugged. Just then, the door opened and a maid entered with a small cart filled with plates of food. There were two jugs of wine and a steaming bowl of soup. She pushed it until it was beside the table, then curtsied and left.

Carl raised his brow, "Do vampires eat?"

"If they did, they eat like kings!" Gabriel scanned the different dishes, "Well, shall we?"