A soft knock caused Van Helsing's head to come up. He instantly looked over at the bed.
Rachael didn't move.
He took one more look at her and then rose. He crossed silently to the door, unlocked and opened it slightly. His gun went out first.
"Put that away!" hissed an angry female voice.
Instantly he put the gun away and opened the door all the way. His hand shot out and he dragged Bo into the room.
She jerked herself free. "I can enter a room without your help, Van Helsing!"
Van Helsing re-locked the door and grinned at her. "And what would bring you prowling around in middle of the night, Lady Bo?"
Bo looked over at Rachael. "Is she still asleep?"
"I put her to sleep. I just hope I didn't use to much of that stuff." He shook his head. "I need to stop using it."
"You didn't use too much." Rachael rolled over and looked at them. "What's happened?"
Bo looked at her, her eyes glittering. "Sanura is on the roof."
Rachael shot out of bed. "At last!"
Rachael jerked the door open but Bo grabbed her arm.
Rachael turned. "What?"
"Use the tunnels."
"Lady Gabriella."
Rachael continued looking out over the land. She said nothing, didn't even acknowledge the soft voice.
"Tonight is a beautiful night, is it not?"
"Yes, it certainly is, Lady Sanura." Rachael at last turned.
The bride took a step back. She had hoped that Rachael would come out here tonight. She wanted the first bite out of her. But she hadn't prepared that Rachael would be waiting for her.
Rachael's eyes where bright red. "Tonight…is your last night."
Sanura hissed and shrieked.
"There's no one to hear you, my dear," said Rachael. She dropped her cloak. "It's just you and me."
Sanura backed up until she was against the door. It was locked.
Rachel crouched.
Sanura hissed and shrieked again.
Rachael jumped at her and the two of them fell to the ground.
Van Helsing looked up as Rachael appeared out of the wall she had gone through. "You'll have to teach me these passages."
Rachael dipped a cloth into the bowl of water on the night stand and wiped her mouth clean. She then threw the cloth into the fire.
The fire turned green briefly then returned to it's own colors of red and orange.
"Is the job done?" asked Van Helsing.
Rachael stared at the fire for a moment. Then turned. "Yes," she said calmly. "Lady Sanura, the second bride of Vladan, is dead."
Two hours later, the sounds of wails and screams reached their ears.
Rachael and Van Helsing looked at each other.
"They found her."
Rachael stopped by Drake. "What's happened?"
"Go look," said Drake. He was not the least surprised when Vladan had come bursting into his office, in a rage.
Rachael made her way through the small crowd gathered around something. She pushed through and just stood there.
Van Helsing appeared behind her and stared.
Sanura was lying there, her hair blowing gently in the morning breeze. Her eyes where open, wide with horror. Her face look liked it had been incased in ice, her lips the only thing of color besides her eyes. Her lips where bright red.
Blood was pooled by her neck and the tips of her fingers where covered in blood. The bite in the side of her neck was large and violent. There was slight bruises on her throat.
Vladan was standing next to the body, staring down at it. He turned and saw Rachael. His eyes where cold and full of hatred. But he cordially dipped his head in her direction.
Rachael nodded back and turned. She disappeared through the crowd.
Rachael stood in one o the many halls, looking up at a stain glass window.
She felt the breath of air on her neck, before she felt someone stroking her hair.
"Touch me again. And you'll never live to regret it," she said calmly.
A soft laugh caused a chill on her back but the hand left.
"Lady Rachael, you are always so nice," said Vladan. "But, should I find out that you had anything to do with my wife's death, I shall be very put out. As shall my other brides."
Rachael turned and her eyes where turning pink.
Vladan took a step back.
"Is that a threat, lord Vladan?" asked Rachael calmly. "Because if it should be, I shall be very put out."
Vladan smiled and bowed deeply. "My lady, I would never dream of threatening you. Not for a thousand years in Heaven."
Rachael curtsied slightly. "Good. Because the likes of you are never found in Heaven anyway."