Hi again! Quite happy with this chapter after trying to figure out how to sculpt it. Especially the ending, but i hope you like! Plz r+r

Aleera was tearing her hair out about tonight. This was the first time she had left her children's side since that disastrous night. Also her only son had died, now she was left with her two beautiful daughters, Adelina and Adriana. Adelina had the same fiery red hair as her mother but was more bold and wouldn't stand for being second best of the two sisters. Her other daughter Adriana, however, was very different. She didn't speak much, but what she did say was well thought out and go to the point, always twirling her golden locks around her spindly fingers, almost like she did with everyone else. She had held them close to her for the past three months but now she was having to let go. They were now aged like young women, but that didn't make the separation any easier. She would have to go and distract Van Helsing while her children were led by Verona to feed for the second time. It also worried her that she wouldn't know if they were safe, if they'd survived. She was afraid that Anna Valerious would make a sudden appearance and kill her children. According to her master she was no threat but he had refused to tell her why. It had even gotten to the point where he had ordered her out of his presence, saying he was tired of her fretting and her worries. She had been truly shaken by what he had said, but had chosen to let it lie. She didn't want her children to be left out for her pushyness. She saw Verona walking out of the master's office. The time had come, but would she ever see her young, bouncy and vibrant daughters alive again?

--X--

Verona saw Aleera stiffen as she entered the foyer where all the children were. Her orders were simple. Find food, be discreet. Easy enough, except she would have Aleera's blond daughter with her. Adraiana could be nice at times, but she was an extreme suck-up. Any time one of the chldren did something, she had to be able to do it better. It was getting to the point where no one could do anything without Adraiana teasing them that she could do it with more skill and ease, and she feared that tonight would be no different. Verona was, however, happy with her own children. Sadly five of her children had perished that one evening with exhaustion and lack of food which had made tongiht even more important for her remaining daughter and son. Dracula was very pleased that a son had lived. Vladimir was his name, and he was the spitting image of his father. The chiselled chin, the bright blue eyes that changed shades with different moods, but his hair wasn't as long. It was untidy and jet black against his pale skin, and it fell around the top part of his face, partially covering one eye. He was a very quiet child, but with much praise from his father he was begining to get more confident with his actions. And then there was her daughter , Petra. She looked alot like her mother only her hair was a shade lighter along with her skin. She was very obedient and never stepped out of line like Aleera's daughers. Because she had no sisters and her brother was always being praised by her father she spends alot of her time with Marishka's only daughter, Larca. She had no problem with Larca as she was also very quiet and always eager to help. She'd also never left her mother's sight for more than five minutes at the most.

But that was all about to change. Verona signalled all the children towards her with her hands, beckoning them over to her. Adriana obviously pushed in as she had to be first, but no one took notice any more. She walked the girls into a different room for them to recieve their dresses. Each would have a different colour to math their eyes in their demonic form. She ushered them into the room and then lined them up. She walked over to the dresses and called them over one by one.

"Adelina" Adelina quickly walked over to recieve her dress. It was crimson red at the edges, slowly lightening in the middle.

"Adriana" She practically ran towards Verona, snatched the dress and ran off to put it on. Hers was golden, but a shade darker than Marishka's, which also matched Adraina's hair.

"Larca" She slowly waked over, a look of apprehension on her face, but it slowly carved into delight at the sight of her dress. Blue, a very dark blue, with matching clips to put into her hair. Verona could hear Adraiana's huff of discontentment as she saw someone with something she didn't already have. And finally...

"Petra" Petra walked over to her mother, exitement in her eyes and smile. When she was shown her dress she gasped. It was by far the most beautiful thing she would probably ever own. It was purple, with a matching bracelet and necklace(an extra something from her mother). She went to put it on and came back looking radiant, the colour looking amazing on her tone of skin.

But now to the more important things. They already knew how to fly so they would have no problem keeping up. Her worry was that the humans would give them away too quickly to the rest of the town and awake Anna and the friar.

They walked into the foyer once again for the three girls to say good bye to their mothers. Marishka looked close to tears when Larca wakled back to join Verona and her two children. Aleera merely kissed both of them on the head and reminded them to be good. Verona almost laughed. Of all the things to ask them to do...

Finally everyone was ready. The master walked out from his study and all the girls curtsied in response. He nodded and then walked to join Marishka and Aleera. They slowly walked down to the balcony overlooking the dining room. As soon as the two other brides were close enough to the edge Dracula lifted them from the back of their outfits and threw them off the baclony. For a few seconds they screamed, but it soon turned into laughter as they transformed in midair. Seeing them in flight. their hair moving with the wind, made Verona yearn to fly again. Dracula turned to her with a solemn face.

"Protect them." She understood how important this night was to all the children. If tonight failed their lives would all be on a thread. She nodded, and was about to lead them one by one to the edge but he sopke again.

"Also, if dear Anna does decide to try to fight, i should like you to bring her back." She glanced at him with a confused look, but nodded. He smiled and jumped from the balcony. All the children ran over to the edge to get a better look at the transformation. She smiled, so happily content.

She then showed them how to jump off and transform without making too much noise, and, once they were done, they set off.

When they finally reached the village Adriana, as Verona had feared, tried to push past everyone lse without caring how much noise she made or how much fuss she created.

"Adriana control yourself!" she spat. Adriana seemed very taken aback at the manner to which she had been spoken to. She calmed down, but never stoppd her golden eyes peircing into Verona.

"Now, I want each of you to feed on at least two people tonight, with as much discretion as possible. But be careful how quickly you drink. Because you have been without it for so long a large intake at too quickly could make you ill. Ok?" They all nodded, Adriana needing a nudge from her sister before complying.

"Now go!" she hissed. They eagerly flew off in all different directions scouring the village for prey. Slowly, they eached picked off a meal with little noise to be heard. Things were going well - so far.

--X--

Petra slowly sank her fangs into the neck of a middle-aged man, quickly quenching her thirst, but also awakening her guilt. She hadn't minded the thought of draining humans dry. Blood banks, as her auntie Aleera called them, until moments ago. When she had picked the man up the fear in hie eyes had made her conflicted and squemish. But the hunger inside her was the one thing she had no power over, and so she drew out her large fangs and pierced into the victim, without a sound escaping his lips. She was so hungry, but her mother had told her to be careful about her intake in a short period of time, so she flew out of sight of the people for a few minutes, so temptation wouldn't get the better of her. She flew over a small forest and then into a clearing. She then found a large castle full of lights that bluured her vision for a few seconds before adjusting. Castle Valerious. She swooped round until she found herself on the opposite side of a window. On the inside was a bedroom, with a young woman in. She had dark brunette hair, almost reaching her elbows. Anna Valerious. She hissed, her family had been the enemy of her father for centuries. So to pay them back, she decided to stop for a short visit.

--X--

Van Helsing stepped cautiously into Castle Frankenstein, knowing that Dracula and his spawn had been here recently by the footsteps in the dust. He trod carefully around the edges of the room so that no one could attack him from behind.

"Back again Gabriel?" Van Helsing looked up to see Dracula and two of his brides hanging from the ceiling. The brides giggled quietly while their master fell from the ceiling to stand opposite Van Helsing. But the third bride had not gone unnoticed. He looked around to see her waiting to ambush him when he was preoccupied.

"Verona isn't here Gabriel." His head snapped back to Dracula, who was slowly walking forward.

"She is in the village with my remaining children feeding. It was very convenient of you to show up tonight, to leave eveyone else helpless while you hunt down me." Dracula was inches away now, so he brought out his holy water but Dracula merely threw it aside.

"You know that will do no good Gabriel. Why must you fight with me when we could be partners. Together, how could the order withstand us? Will you accept my offer? This is your last chance. Normally I am not so lenient, but with you I will allow you one, more, chance." Dracula reached his hand out, but Van Helsing shoved the hand away, and threw some garlic in Dracula's direction before running for the door. But just before he could get out they closed.

"Tut tut Gabriel I am dissapointed in you. Yet, I should've known that you would have stayed faithful to the order. Very well, you have made your own choice." The brides cackled from behind, their darkening eyes looking straight into Van Helsing, watching the blood pump through his veins.

"Do excuse my brides Gabriel, but for months now they have not had a meal. And how can they resist one that jumps stright into their laps?" With that he transformed and flew away, leaving Van Helsing with two ravenous brides.

Think, think! He shouted inside his head. As one of the brides grew closer he brought out his crucifix but before he got a chance to use it he was catapulted across the room by one of the vampires. Only half concious afterwards he could feel the collar of his coat being moved from his neck by the red-haired vampire. Her teeth elongated and she snarled at how easily she had brought Van Helsing down. He could feel her getting closer, but it was as if his nervous system had broken down, he felt powerless to do anything. So she grew evercloser, till the point where he could feel her breath on his neck. Then -

"I am the oldest. I want first bite!" hissed the other bride. She pushed the red-haired one out of the way. But she hadn't given up.

"You do know he likes me the most don't you? Out of all three of us. Why otherwise would he have sired me if you could satisfy him? I am the most important bride as i can fulfill his desires so I should get firs bite!" After a few minutes it had turned into a full-blown fight. Now was his chance, if he could just reach his steak - got it! The vampire grew closer and closer. So, without any hesitation, he punctured her heart with the steak, and covered his ears to the screaming of the remaining bride.

Wow was this ending difficult! Anyone who knows me would know which bride got staked by Van Helsing at the end, but I guess you'll have to wait to find out!