Anna pressed a glass of wine into Gabriel's hand. "So you're Gabriel Van Helsing."

"That's right."

Anna raised her eyebrows. "The wanted posters hardly did you justice."

Gabriel laughed. The woman was not only beautiful but she was smart.

"Some say you're a murder. Others say you're a holy man," said Anna. "Which is it?"

"Both."

The hall in Dracula's castle was quiet. The cobwebs wafted slowly in the breeze. Suddenly two men walked right through the wall.

"Marishka!" Dracula's pale face was tight with anger. "Damn that stranger!"

His brother looked at him calmly. "It's not that bad of a thing, brother. You'll find other brides."

"If it's not the Christians, it's the Moors! Why can't they just leave us alone, Vladimir? We never kill more than our fill. And less than our share? Can they say the same?"

"Like I said, you'll find yourself another bride if you find yourself lonely."

There was a horrified gasp from behind them and the brothers turned. Aleera, Verona, Chavelle and Dawnita where standing there. But the gasp had come from Dracula's two remaining brides.

"Have you no heart?" wailed Verona.

"Do we mean so little to you?" asked Aleera.

"No! I have no heart, I feel no love. Nor fear, nor joy, nor sorrow. I am hollow! Soulless! At war with the world and every living soul in it! But soon…very soon, the final battle will begin," he said quietly, almost to himself.

"You lie very well," Vladimir said. "You feel love, fear, joy and sorrow. You are not hollow to all."

"Too true!" said Dracula. "I am interested in these two mysterious strangers that have killed my bride."

Gabriella stood at her bedroom window and studied the dark castle that rose high into the air. "Gabriel, there's someone in that castle."

"Of course. Dracula, his nasty brother and all their wonderful women are inside."

"Let's go up there."

Gabriel, who had thrown himself into a chair by the fire, stared at her. "What?"

Gabriella turned from the window. "Are you coming?" She went over and threw open her wardrobe. She was still dressed in her tight black pants and black shirt that was open at the throat. She quickly strapped on her thigh holsters and slid guns into them. quickly she tied her mass of hair back with a black ribbon. She wrapped herself in a cloak and turned. "Am I going by myself?"

Gabriel sighed heavily.

"No."

Brother and sister turned. Anna was standing in the door. Now Gabriel's sigh was even heavier.

Gabriella frowned as they entered the castle. "What a disgusting place!"

Gabriel wrinkled his nose. "God, what an awful smell!"

Anna tiptoed up some steps and peered down a hallway. "It's coming from down here." She stepped into the darkness and the Van Helsings hurried after her.

They where struck speechless. They entered a much larger hall than they had just been in. This one was filled with row upon row of small pods that caused the disgusting smell. They where all connected with masses of wires and hung from the ceiling.

"What are these?" Anna reached out her hand but jerked it back when Gabriella snapped at her.

"Don't touch it!"

Gabriel drew a long silver knife and quickly slashed one free.

All three of them jumped back as it hit the floor and busted open. A shriveled little vampire lay curled up inside. It quickly grew blue and stiff.

"Good God!" exclaimed Gabriella.

"So that's what you get when vampires mate." Gabriel looked around. "There where hundreds upon thousands of them.

"All of these?" Anna stared incredulously around her and then back at the mess on the floor.

"Two men with five gorgeous women for over four hundreds years…" Gabriel raised an eyebrow. "What did you expect?"

"But they're not alive," said Gabriella slowly.

"What can you expect? Their parents are dead so why wouldn't they be born dead." Gabriel looked at his sister.

"But then why…" She knelt and studied the dead vampire baby on the floor. "How do they come alive?"

"Vladimir."

Vladimir turned and his merry sky blue eyes where twinkling. "Yes?"

"We have visitors."

"I don't know and I don't think I want to," said Gabriel. "Come on, let's keep moving."

They entered a slightly smaller room with a large wooden door at one end.

Suddenly, a great gust of wind blew up and instantly both Gabriel and Gabriella had their guns drawn. Gabriella grabbed Anna by the arm and threw her into a corner.

"Stay there!" she bit out.

Two shadows swooped overhead, one dipped so low Gabriella felt a wing brush the top of her head. She didn't move but suddenly she raised her gun and deftly filled both shadows with holes.

"Well, this is something I did not expect."

They both whirled and two men where standing there. Dracula and Vladimir stared at them in surprise.

Gabriella's eyes went from one man to the other. Slowly her gun lowered. There was something so familiar about them… "Now that I have your attention," she said coolly.

"Who would have ever guessed…" Dracula's words trailed off and he glanced at his brother.

"You always where a cool one, Gabriella," Vladirmir said calmly. He searched the blue eyes that where so like his own. "You don't remember, do you?" he asked quietly.

Dracula held Gabriella's blue gaze. "I can tell the character of a man…or a woman by the sound of their heartbeat." He clapped his hands to the beat of a heart.

"You're quite talented," Gabriella said dryly.

Dracula took a step closer. "Usually when I approach I can almost dance to the beat." He clapped faster but slowed it down until it was steady. "Strange…that both of yours beats in unison and so steady."

"You've both grown a good deal since we last met," Vladimir said calmly. He walked around the pair slowly. "Gabriella, I thought it not possible, but you've grown far more beautiful. Perhaps it's your lust for justice…your willingness to sacrifice all that enhances you. A gift from God perhaps?"

Gabriella stepped back, closer to her brother. They look so familiar!

"Hello Gabriel…and Gabriella." Dracula grinned. "You don't remember my brother and I…do you? Allow me to refresh your memories…for we have some history, the four of us."

"How…" began Gabriel.

"Why, you're the great Van Helsings!" exclaimed Dracula. "Found within the Vatican City and trained by Buddhist monks. Known from Istanbul to Budapest! And what a colorful history the two of you have. Believing that God took your memories for a great sin. Perhaps He did. For the two of you committed the gravest of sins."

"How do you know us?" asked Gabriella.

"So, would you like me to refresh your memory, my dear?" asked Dracula. "A few details from your sordid past?"

"Go to Hell!" Suddenly Gabriella hurled a silver crucifix straight at Dracula.

Dracula shrieked angrily and the crucifix burst into flames inches from his face.

"Perhaps that is a conversation for another time, Dracula," said Vladimir. "I grow bored with this conversation. We have work to do. Let them go."

"Before you go, allow me to introduce myself." Dracula bowed elegantly. "I am Count Vladislaus Dragulia. Born 1432 and murdered 1462."

Vladimir sketched a small bow. "I am Vladimir Dragulia, twin brother to Vladislaus. Born, as was he, in 1432 and murdered," he locked eyes with Gabriella, "As he was, 1462."

Suddenly, an unearthly shrieked split the air and Anna jumped up. She looked up, her eyes wild. "Velkan!" she screamed.

Both Vladimir and Vladislaus whirled.

"Princess Anna." Vladimir smiled. "Welcome."

Gabriella drew her gun and leveled it at the door. She shot the lock off and planted her small booted foot right through it. "Gabriel!"

But Gabriel grabbed her arm and hurled her out the door, tossing Anna with her. They tumbled down the front stairs and scrambled to their feet. They ran across through the gates and disappeared into the thick forest that surrounded the castle.

"What hurts you more, Vladislaus?" asked Vladimir in his maddeningly calm way as they stood in the doorway that Gabriella had created and watched the three figures until they where gone from sight. "The fact that she didn't remember us? Or the look of horrible fear that darted through her eyes when she saw us?"

Dracula didn't answer for a long moment. "I'm not sure," he said at last. "You?"

"The fact that she has no memory of you whatsoever. She can't even remember the good."

"Perhaps we can unlocked their memories."

"What's wrong with you?" Gabriel had grabbed Anna by her arm and was shaking her violently.

"Gabriel!" Gabriella grabbed his arm. "Stop!"

"It was Velkan!" shrieked Anna. "I heard him. I heard him!"

"Velkan is dead!" shouted Gabriel, in her face.

"No! I heard him! I heard him!" Anna began to shriek hysterically.

Gabriella slapped Anna soundly across the face. "Enough! The both of you!"

Gabriel let go of Anna and Anna stared at her in shock.

"Both of you seem to have forgotten that we have a bigger problem on our hands." Gabriella looked at Gabriel. "The Order knew nothing about the dead children. The children that I now suspect that Dracula and his brother is trying to bring to life." Now she looked at Anna. "Anna, are you sure that was your brother you heard?"

"Yes," said Anna instantly. "I'd know the sound of his voice anywhere."

Gabriella sighed heavily. "Anna, I fear your brother is dead."

"You heard him too!" cried Anna.

"He's as good as dead. Did you not hear his voice as he screamed?"

Anna stared at her.

"Good God!" exclaimed Gabriel. "He's a werewolf!"

"Oh God, my dear brother," whispered Anna.

Gabriel looked at her for a long moment and a strange look came over his face. "To have memories of those you have loved and lost is perhaps harder than to have no memories at all."