Chapter VIII: The Demon Within

"Lucifer…" Simon stated quietly.

Indeed, this was who stood before them, a black aura surrounding him as he smiled at Serenity. Chaos took several steps back as he observed the two staring at one another, neither one moving or saying anything. All of the arms save for the ones holding Nathan and the others disappeared.

"My dear Serenity, it is so good to see you again." Lucifer said still smiling.

Serenity said nothing; her eyes never leaving Lucifer's. She could feel the anger and hate within her, but she could not make herself move. She was Hell's puppet in this form, and if she was not careful, one wrong move or loss of concentration would bring the entire castle down along with everyone in it.

"Father, what a pleasant surprise to see you grace us with your presence." Chaos stated sarcastically.

Lucifer gazed in Chaos' direction for a moment, and then turned his attention back to Serenity before he replied simply, "Leave."

Now Chaos smiled, "Sorry," he reached and drew his sword, "I told you before that I want her for myself."

With force Lucifer turned to face Chaos, a pure black sword in his hand. Neither moved for what seemed like ages, then without word or warring they attacked each other.

"Serenity, Serenity listen to me…" Eric called down to her.

She did not move, she did not even blink. Inside her mind the Spirit of Hell was working against her senses. It made her see false images of her past and what she was bound to do in the future. Serenity struggled against it, although she was watching the fight between Lucifer and Chaos her mind was working on overcoming her murderous impulses.

"Lord Dracula…"

She could not deny it any longer, she needed help, and she needed it now.

Suddenly Serenity gasped in pain, her fangs becoming sharper and sharper by the second. A fire was burning in her chest, and she knew things were about to become very dire. The vampire blood running through her veins was beginning to draw out the evil power of the Spirit. This was the reason Serenity wanted to stay a half vampire, so she would be able to control the monster inside her. The fight with Lucifer and Chaos had come to an abrupt end as Lucifer threw Chaos against the wall where a bloody arm was waiting to grab him. Camilla had been captured half way into the battle, but no one seemed to notice as she put up a mild fight. One thing she had learned over the years serving under Chaos was to never resist Lucifer.

"Well, now that we have that little scuff out of the way," Lucifer said mildly turning toward Serenity, "we can get down to more pressing matters.

Without a word Serenity brought the black flamed sword up and pointed it at Lucifer.

"She's not herself anymore." Adrian reported faintly.

Lisa shot him a concerned look from across the room as Hugh questioned, "She's being controlled again, that much I can see, but there's something else isn't there?"

"Yes." Adrian replied simply.

They stared in silence, hoping Adrian would tell more, but he remained silent. Adrian knew what had happened to her; it wasn't just the Spirit of Hell, or Lucifer's presence that was changing her into the demon they all feared. Something else had happened; he could see it in her eyes. The Spirit's power was not able to manifest itself as fast as it was now, unless one simple element was present inside Serenity. That element was vampire blood, and not just any vampire blood, but the strongest of all bloodlines.

"Father…" Adrian stated so silently that only he could feel his breath against his pursed lips, his eyes gaining a tiny glint of red to match Serenity's.

A dark shadow could be seen spreading across the castle courtyard; dozens upon dozens of wolf corpses littered the area. Morris was breathing heavily, but under his bloody teeth he was smiling.

"Something is one your mind, monster." he stated quietly with a hint of laughter.

From out of the shadows came the form of Dracula. His aura was stronger than ever, but he was no doubt troubled by something. Morris let out a howl of laughter as he struggled to his feet, coughing up a drip or two of blood as he did so.

"You can feel it too; the girl has transformed once again."

Dracula did not respond to him, their fight was over. He gazed up to the top floor of the castle where an enormous black aura had gathered around the throne room. He could feel Serenity's need for him as she finally threw her needs away and focused on what was truly the best for her and her friends and family. What was concerning him the most at the moment was his son; he could hear his son along with Serenity and wondered what it meant. Adrian never called out to him; he had never channeled him even once since his birth, so why was he calling to him now.

"You," Dracula motioned to the few remaining of Morris' wolves, "take your master and leave."

Even though the wolves were under Morris' command they obeyed the dark lord and padded over to Morris, who had fallen back down where he landed.

"Strange," Morris remarked as he once again rose to his feet, "it never occurred to me that you could actually feel something for them…for her."

With that Morris left with his wolves without saying another word. Now that he had taken care of one problem there was one more thing Dracula needed to do, and that was to bring Serenity back to her original self.

"Serenity…" he called out to her in his mind.

He could feel her, she was there, but something was wrong. He waited for her to reply to him. He could have easily reached out to his son, but he had no idea if he would even let him into his conciseness. Unlike other beings of this word Adrian was the only person he could not reach if he did not let his father into his mind. If he focused enough Dracula could even reach into Lucifer's mind for a short period of time. This last thought struck him, and his eyes became a deeper red.

Suddenly Serenity's voice echoed faintly through his mind, "Lucifer…"

Of course, he should have thought of it before. The only reason Serenity would have lost control now would be because of Lucifer.

"So it begins again." Dracula said under his breath.

He cursed himself for being so blind to the situation, for he knew that if he would have waited to meet Serenity this could have been avoided.

"That girl," he said to himself as he prepared to merge once again with the shadows, "she always breaks the hold on me. Just like…"

He did not finish his sentence as he disappeared from view. He could not bear to think about her. Even if he…loved another, he would always love…

Several moments later Dracula appeared outside the broken door of the throne room. He was standing just so that no one could see him in the throne. He heard Lucifer, and a number of other voices calling Serenity's name and shouting empty threats to him.

Focusing he channeled Serenity once more, "Serenity, I am here now and I will help you. Do you hear me?"

Silence; he waited for several minutes before a reply came, not from his mind, but from inside the throne room.

"You are not just going to stand out there all night are you?" Lucifer laughed.

Dracula's face became hard as he struggled to hold in his rage. He heard his thoughts through Serenity, and then it dawned on him that Serenity was not telling Dracula Lucifer was in the throne room, she was telling him that he could hear her thoughts.

For the second time Dracula cursed his feelings for Serenity as he ducked and walked into the throne room. Love and wanting had blinded Dracula for the second time in his cursed life and this fatal error may be the very last time he or anyone else ever loves again. Bracing himself Dracula glanced at Serenity for a brief second before he focused all of his power towards Lucifer.