As soon as she saw the hellbeast nearing the castle, Verona threw herself down the stairs and out into the snow. Her eyes widened and her stomach suddenly went cold as she saw the bundle in his strong arms. Dracula touched down and changed into his humanoid form, brushing some frost from his daughters face. Her hands were clamped tightly over her eyes, and the tears and blood had frozen into a macabre mask. Verona gasped.

"What happened?"

"Van Helsing. Again. This is the second time in two days he's managed to hurt her. Tend to her, please"

Verona took Sera and returned inside, scaling the stairs, and disappearing.

---

Dracula took a seat, and put his face in his hands. It all seemed so confusing. His old friend of long ago now was bent on destroying him and his family. If only he had his memories...of those they had shared, as friends, almost brothers. It would be such a pity to kill him. But then again, there was his darling Sera, and his beautiful bride, who seemed to be hurt every time Gabriel showed up.

He didn't notice Verona descending until she tapped his shoulders. Tears were in her eyes, and she did not look as composed as was usual.

"Too close" She said, softly.

"Mmm?"

"Too close. Vladislaus, you have no idea of how close she was to being blinded. For EVER. She's too young to be hurt like this! I don't think I can take it much longer!" She cried. He stood up, and she fell into his arms, sobbing quietly against his shoulder.

"I don't know what I'm going to do. Everyone hates us...and she's the only child I have"

"I'll go see her"

Verona took his seat and he climbed the stairs, and stepped into the room.

"Who is that!" came a small voice. He saw his daughter, looking very small and very pale in her bed. A bandage covered her eyes. In her confusion and pain she could not scent him. She could not tell it was her own father.

"Its papa darling. Just me"

She relaxed against the pillow, brow furrowing slightly as she struggled to grab a hold of his presence.

"Papa-I mean master" she said, a hint of a sob catching at her voice.

"No. Not master today. Just papa"

A slight smile curved her face.

"Why did he do that, papa? Why did he take me? And why did he hurt me when I tried to get away?"

She was skewing the tale slightly, but it didn't really matter. She was pure truth in her fathers' eyes.

"I don't really know, Sera. He's scared of us. All we want is the continuation of our kind...and he is hell-bent on the total destruction of it. Perhaps the thinks we wish to take over the world," he chuckled. "But that sort of thing...only happens in stories"

He pulled her into his arms and gave her a little hug, all the while contemplating his old friend. What had happened...who had slipped? He or Gabriel? It was too confusing. Let the past be the past, the present be, and the future come. If Gabriel was to give up his own memories for a life of fighting creatures of evil, so be it. And anyway, what more did he want...Anna had died while he was residing in hell, she had gained passage to heaven.

---

Several days later, a knock at the door surprised him. Two Dwergi were already opening the door. Framed in the huge archway was Van Helsing. Sopping wet from the rain and sleet. Dracula felt the anger well behind his eyes, the deep brown changing to icy blue.

"What is it that you want, Gabriel?" he spat. Van Helsing had his head bowed.

"I'm here...to say I'm sorry. I'm sorry I hurt your daughter, I'm sorry I'm even here. I don't know who I am anymore...hurting innocent children"

"Come in out of the wet. I'll decide what to do with you inside"

Van Helsing stepped inside. The Dwergi closed the double-doors after him and scurried away. Dracula and he seated themselves.

"Tell me why you're back"

"Because you're alive"

"And? Anna is dead, it's all over. She gained passage to...heaven. I'm not hurting anyone."

Gabriel contemplated how much to tell Dracula.

"The Valerious's aren't dead. Velkan...had a daughter before he died"

"Well, well, well" smirked Dracula. "And must it be my daughter or his? Or do you intend to slay me again?"

"You. Those are my orders from...the Order"

"Where is Velkans daughter residing, now?"

"Vaseria" Gabriel said absently. Then he clapped a hand to his mouth. He swore rather unpleasantly, while Dracula smiled smugly.

"I must pay a visit to her...I can always smell a Valerious out. It won't be hard. Did prince Velkan hide this...daughter from me?"

"Yeah..."

"I'd suggest you leave now, Gabriel. I'll decide to grant forgiveness or not later. I have business to attend to"

Van Helsing stalked out, and Dracula followed, though going upwards, not away. He circled twice then dove for the small town. He alit in a concealed patch of trees and continued on foot for a few yards. Instantly he caught the smell of one with the Valerious blood. It burned his nostrils. He strode over to the building it emanated from and opened the door. A house it seemed. His ears picked up the heavy sounds of breathing. He went silently up the steps, and found himself in a hallway. He pinpointed the breath and went inside. There was a tiny bed, and in it, a girl.

She wasn't more than thirteen. That made sense, seeing as Velkan was only around thirty when he died, the child would have to be young. But he hadn't really put that into consideration. He had expected an older girl. From what he could see, she was sturdily built, had streaky, mousy brown hair, and not an unpleasant profile. He fitted a hand around her neck and lifted her from the sheets. Her eyes flew open, and she made a sort of muffled shrieking noise. Fear danced in those eyes, and she flailed weakly. Then she went limp, in a dead faint. He grinned and gathered her up, and flew off into the night. He felt her heartbeat against his arms, but resisted the urge to slice her neck open and drain the blood. Not yet, at least.

---

When he returned, it was Marishka who greeted him. He was in good spirits, so he stopped to talk.

"What is that, my lord" she said, in her slightly hissing voice.

"Only Velkans daughter, my dear" he crowed. Marishka gasped, and then a cruel smile passed over her lovely features.

"What...what do you plan to do with her?"

"I'll see what she can tell me. If there are any who plan to stop my experiments. Or perhaps she knows where the monster is...If she has no information, who knows. I could give her to Sera as a playmate"

Marishka lowered her head.

"Oh..."

"If she loses her entertainment value, you can have her" He loved the bloodthirstiness of this particular bride. She smiled.

"Oh, thank you, my lord"

He strode inside, and found Verona. She sniffed, then looked at him.

"Why do you have a child with you, Vladislaus, and why does she stink of the Valerious family?"

"Because she's Velkans daughter. He attempted to hide her, but dear Gabriel accidentally spilled the secret"

Verona's eyes lit up emerald with excitement.

"Oh, this is good news, my lord. Let me take her. She seems to have fainted"

Dracula deposited the child into her arms, and she trotted happily up the stairs. He saw the faint light over the horizon, and decided to take a well-deserved rest. He scaled the wall quickly, and fell asleep, clinging to the rafters.

---

Upstairs, Verona opened the door to Sera's room.

"Good news, my dear. We have found the child of prince Velkan!"

A brilliant smile lit Sera's bandaged face.

"Oh, that is wonderful. May I meet her"

"As soon as she awakes, my dear. She rather fainted at the sight of your father" Sera giggled.

"Mama?"

"Yes?"

Sera undid the bandage, and unraveled it from her face. Except for a rather nasty scar, that would eventually go away, she was healed.

"Look, mama. It healed much faster than I thought" she smiled radiantly again. Verona cocked her head. This was good.

"Good. I'll bring the Valerious child to you shortly"

Sera lay back against the pillow in wait. This would be fun.