We Meet Again!

The three Detective males from SVU began asking all sorts of questions as I tried to keep my headache to a minimal, without success. This was hardly the time for an interrogation! Olivia was being held captive by my former creator and King of all Vampires; Dracula! In New York! Though I don't know how long he's been here I had to stop all this yelling from the men I was surrounded by!

"Alright! Everyone just SHUT UP!" I shouted, my fangs bearing menacingly as my red eyes burned at each one, daring them to interrupt me again. When they didn't, I continued. "Listen to me! The vampire that has her could have done anything to her at this point! Those images that he sent me could be a lie! I can't just go charging in with guns blazing this time! That won't work with him! He's too powerful!"

"I'll say! The almighty Leader of the Undead has got to be one of those legendary cockroaches, right?" Elliot said and I was forced to reign in my temptation of smacking the man around. "I'm serious here!" I shouted angrily at him and he put up his hands in front of his face in defense, yet still holding a very amused expression.

"Alright, C! Alright!" Tutuola said and clamped a hand on my shoulder and squeezed. "Calm down! So, Dracula has showed up in Manhattan and is now using Olivia as a hostage to lure you out. You do realize that avoiding him forever was going to be a shot in the dark? No pun intended." He added as I glared while my inhuman eyes refocused to being a hazel glow, for he knew that even I was no longer available for that pun!

"So then, what do we do now?" Munch asked, for he was more tired and annoyed over this whole thing. "Wait to see if the Count has bitten Benson so he can send her to kill us, or do we hand over C for an exchange?"

"Might not work, because he'll end up getting both women!" Elliot pointed out calmly as he moved his hands in his coat pockets.

"I have to face him," I said, grabbing everyone's attention again, "Alone," I added firmly.

"The Hell you are!" Tutuola sniffed at me. "Benson may be one of us, but she sure as Hell wouldn't want you facing your worst enemy like that!"

"I'll go with you!" Elliot stepped forward and I glared at him. "Don't you say I can't because I'm a weak human either! Olivia is my partner so I'm gonna help make that bastard pay!"

The cogs in my brain were on full speed as I tried to think of a plan. Maybe Elliot could come with? He would be no less than a distraction for the Vampire King! Hmmm.

"Alright," I said making all their eyes grow big at me. "But you have to follow everything I say, because your life will depend on it! Got it?"

"Ya! I got it!" Elliot said as I undid the belt that held my sword and then I handed it to Tutuola.

"Take this to Father Brandon in St. Paul's Chapel just west of Broadway! He knows me, so just tell him I need a big favor by blessing this blade several times, okay?" I asked as the Detective carefully took the hilt of my sword, like it was going to come alive and bit him. "You don't have to tell him why, just bring me the blade back once he's done."

"Okay," Detective Tutuola nodded as he and Munch went for their car and I joined Elliot in his. "Give us a call to tell us where your location is at, C!"

"Right!" I showed him my phone as Elliot started up the car and we drove off, while the other vehicle turned south. "The building I saw was familiar. I think its somewhere down Centre Street."

"Got it," Elliot breathed out and then turned a corner. Giving me a sideways glance before turning back to the street, he sighed and said, "You do know the Chef would want to hear about this."

Taking in my own sigh, I let the silence roll pass us for another minute before pulling out my phone and dialing the SVU HQ number. "Fine," I said and waited for the voice of Captain Donald Cragen to great my ears.

After 'spilling the beans,' so to say; he wasn't the least bit happy. Knowing that the vampire, who turned me, had come to New York for my ass and was using one of his best Detectives as bait, made him pretty mad. Well, that makes two of us! Once our little show was done, he had asked me to do everything in my power to make sure that Olivia comes out of this alive and not undead! Ya. There's a challenge!

"Men!" I growled inhumanly as I hung up the phone, "For once, can I have a guy not blaming me for shit!?"

"No one's blaming this on you, C!" Elliot countered as he turned to another street, "It's just… well… unexpected is all! We didn't know or believed that Dracula was still around! I know that you meant to keep it as a secret and I understand! But, I need your help to get Olivia back and you need someone to back you up while you face your former master! So, let's just call this an even lesson, alright?"

My glare was his only answer and he just shrugged. "Suit yourself."

When we finally arrived at the street I mentioned, my eyes began to scan each building for any sign of resemblance to the vision that he gave me. It was the last building down the road and I stiffened when I noticed the swirl of clouds blowing right above it. This is it. I thought as I tried to be calm, for there was no way I could let him know I was here yet without broadcasting my fears to him!

"This it?" Elliot asked as he noticed how my eyes had hardened at the sight.

"Yes," I said coolly and immediately called the others to let them know where we were at. From the other line, Tutuola said that the Father had blessed my sword and had said to wish me luck. How nice. But I know that 'luck' isn't the only thing that I'm going to need when facing him.

"Should we call an Ambulance?" Elliot asked me as he moved to hide the car in a nearby alley.

"Go ahead. If you're lucky, you might need one," I commented drily. His puzzled look did nothing to ease the tension in my body as we waited for the other two to show up. As I gazed up into the 'seemingly' empty building I noticed that there was only one heartbeat in it. Releasing a deep breath, for that one heart beat told me one thing; "She's still alive."

"You can tell? How?" Elliot gazed at me in wonder.

Rolling my eyes, I turned to him with a dead expression. "I can hear her heartbeat."

"Oh. Sorry," He said in a rather small tone and he turned his eyes back to the building. "Think I should have brought holy water or something?"

"You'll only succeed in pissing him off," I said, half annoyed that he would start to list off the original tools for fighting a vampire. "He's not just some any old ghoul, Detective! He's a King! Kings happen to be a lot tougher to take out!"

"Okay, so – How do you kill a King then?" He asked rather dryly.

"You don't," I stated and sat back in the passenger seat. "You are only here to find Benson and get her out. Leave him to me. After all, it's why he's here."

"Ya. Any ideas how he could have found out?" He asked as I continued to keep my eye on the building; just in case he found us out. "I mean I know news gets around, but with all this thing about being isolated in a castle and mountains and stuff –!"

"I don't know!" I quickly snapped at him with a growl, "Let's just – focus here and now! Okay!"

"Okay! No need to get your fangs bent out of shape!" He raised a hand up in defense as I bit my lower lip. If it weren't for the other car showing up I would have done something to him right then and there, but I didn't want to leave a mess in the car. As we got out to meet them across the street, I noticed my sword in Detective Tutuola's hand.

"Any complications?" I asked as he and Munch stopped a few feet in front of us.

"Na. He just said good luck and don't get yourself killed," Tutuola huffed and then handed me my sword, hilt first.

When I touched it, I felt it hum with a new lightness. Though I wore fingerless gloves, I could still feel its burning prayers against the unholy, warm my palm. It seriously hurt me, and it won't kill Dracula, but it will slow him down enough so that Elliot can make his escape with Olivia. That's assuming she's not been under his influence and will come willingly!

"Thanks," I told him and he gave me a nod. Turning my gaze back to the broken down building, I slipped on my blade's belt around my waist and started for the east side, where I spotted an EXIT door. "Let's go, Detective Stabler! You two stay here and stay hidden! I called your Captain not long ago so he should be here soon, but no one else! I don't want this to turn into a slaughter!"

"So, we just wait until Elliot comes back out with Liv?" Munch asked yet still annoyed that that's all the two will be doing.

"Yes!" I turned back to face them sternly, "You're his backup in case things get bad! As soon as the two are out, you take them far away from here and drive as fast as you can! There's no telling what he'll do to me once I'm in there, let alone what he has already done to Detective Benson! So, please! Wait here!"

"Got it!" Tutuola sighed as he and Munch walked back to their car, to stay hidden like I asked.

"You sure about that?" Elliot ran up beside me as we closed in on the door. "About this whole thing going bad in case I screw up or you screw… Whoa – HEY!"

I had suddenly grabbed the front of his coat and nailed his ass to a nearby brick wall so fast that he couldn't fight back. "Listen to me!" I hissed in a deep and threatening voice that he couldn't hope to ignore as I held onto him firmly, not letting up in the least. "You have got to keep your thoughts straight! Think of Olivia! ONLY Olivia! Don't think of me! Don't think of the others! And don't look into his eyes! You understand?" I breathed heavily into his face as he slowly nodded. "I mean it, Detective! Once you step through that door, he'll sense you; if he hasn't already by now! Your heartbeat is like a tracking bleep to him! But if you keep your thoughts ONLY on Olivia and getting her out of here, then you might have a chance! I'm going to take a scenic route and try to get a jump on him while his focus is on you!"

"Wait! So – I'm just baiting him!?" He swallowed in fear and I had to shake him out of it.

"Will you listen to me!?" I hissed through my grinding teeth. "Keep your thoughts on Olivia! Nothing else! Alright!?" I spat as I kept tightening my hold on his coat.

"Okay! Okay!" He breathed out as his mind began to focus on images of his partner. Good. IF he keeps that up, then we might have a chance after all! Maybe. I hope.

"Alright," I said then pointed to the heavy metal door. "She's on this floor. Go straight for about thirty paces then go left. She's on a table and seems to be in a hypnotic sleep." I stated, for even from here, I could hear her deep breathing and her thoughts somewhat closed off. Once I let him go and took a few several steps away, so the man can breathe, we assessed each other for a moment before speaking to him one final time. "Remember. Keep your mind on Olivia! Nothing else! Good luck."

With that I jumped up and high to the far right of the building, where I spotted an open window just a few stories high. I watched from below as Elliot was watching me with a surprised and impressed face. I sniffed at that as I disappeared from his view. I just hope he doesn't fuck this up! I thought as my other half helped me to cool down and star the hunt, for it was as eager as I was to finally get some payback!

"Okay…," Elliot breathed out and took the cold handle of the door and swung it open. Keeping his hand on his gun's handle, Elliot began to move down the long and dirty hallway. Thirty paces to the left, she said – Oh right! I have to think on Olivia! I can't have the King read my mind and spoiling the plan! …! SHIT!

He hoped that that wasn't broadcasted to the said 'King of Vampires!' If Dampire C could hear his thoughts as easily as the second time he met her, then there was no way in Hell he could hide anything from this guy! But he had to! C was counting on him to keep focused and getting his partner out of here alive! Focused! Throughout all his training as a cop he was always taught how to be focused on nothing else but your target! That's why C asked him to think of nothing else but Olivia because she knew his thoughts could be straightened out; when he wanted them too! Now seemed like a very good time to bring out that old habit!

Though the sun was still behind the clouds, it provided him with some light to navigate throughout this labyrinth of rooms and hallways. Keeping his mind trained on Olivia, he recalled C's instructions and followed the hallway all the way down as he counted his steps to thirty. Right as she had predicted, down the left hall was an open room. As he turned towards the room, he kept his heartbeat steady and eye's trained forward as he felt the temperature begin to drop. He remembered feeling this kind of drop at the old chapel where that Demon was summoned. But this – this was way colder! It was like the air was being manipulated to be colder! But he had to stay focused! Stay calm! And get Olivia out of this place!

When he got to the door way, he saw his partner lying on a table with her eyes closed, like she was asleep! "Oh God! Olivia!" He quickly ran to her side and tried to shake her awake. "Liv! Wake up, Liv! Wake up already! Come on!" But no luck. She wouldn't move an inch as her chest rose and fell lightly in her sleep.

"You are not who I was expecting," A bone chilling yet disappointed voice with a rich European accent made Elliot freeze in his shoes. Keeping himself calm by taking a deep breath, he reached for his gun and started to examine his surroundings for the source of that voice, but he couldn't find anyone around.

"Just who where you expecting then?" Elliot said to try and make him talk more. God Almighty! I'm in the same room as Count fucking Dracula! His mind began to panic, but he tried to keep most of his thoughts on Olivia's safety.

"I am sure you know of whom I seek!" His voice rang around him in dislike as Elliot kept his gun's barrel to the ground, yet his arm muscles remained tense for anything that would move a few feet towards him. "Just as I am sure that who is the one to send you in here first!"

"Really? Because I'm an Officer in this city! How do you know that I just didn't find out where she was by myself?" He asked into the open room and noticed how there was a second landing for the entire second floor to see. Just from the corner of his eye, he thought he saw something black move quickly to the left wall. Blinking again, his spin began to shiver with goose-bumps as a rather dark chuckle echoed around him.

"Trying to distract me, are you? Detective?" The voice said as Elliot heard footsteps coming closer and out into the lighting on the second landing. The man had a height that almost seemed dignified. He wore all black and his black hair was clipped behind his head in a ponytail. The sharp features on his face showed how handsome he was as a black cloak draped over his shoulders, giving each of his steps a floating manor. When Elliot noticed the bright blue in his eyes, he immediately turned away and tried to focus on his face, which was now smirking down at him sinisterly.

"I know who you are, Detective Stabler," The Count hissed at him miffly, "You are this female's partner! You are also one of those mortals that have come into contact with my Dampire!"

Elliot swore up and down in his head as he realized that he only knew about him was through Olivia's memories. Did C know about this? If so, why didn't she tell him? Or – maybe she didn't know about him searching Olivia's mind!

"So, you do know where she is," Dracula's smirk broadened as Elliot felt a strong and cold influence surround his mind; like a thick fog. Surrounding, but not penetrating! Yet! Elliot kept his thoughts on Olivia as best as he could while he tried to figure a way out of this.

"What did you do to Liv?" Elliot asked, trying to sound angry himself as he stood in front of Olivia's form protectively.

"She sleeps. For now," The Count spoke coolly and stared down his nose at him. Where the Hell was C when he needed her! "But… I would not have taken her if she had been more compliant with my demands. Yet, it seems only fitting that if you were to answer my questions correctly; you will have your partner back and returned to her normal state of mind."

"Sounds fair," Elliot said when, from the corner of his left eye, he thought he spotted movement about twenty paces behind the Count. "But I can't say that I will be right either! Nor am I sure that you'll guarantee both of our safety!"

"You have my word," Dracula smirked down at him, then frowned as he began to pace to the right, his blue orbs looking livid at him again. "But! If this is a rouse! You and that woman will suffer the worst of my wrath! Now tell me, for I am going to ask you only once! Where is my Dampire C?"

"You're Dampire!?" Elliot looked skeptical at him, for the thought of playing it stupid would help to distract him further. "I was under the impression that she was a free woman!"

"Unfortunately! She cannot continue to be free!" The vampire hissed at him and Elliot almost swallowed as he bared a set of menacing fangs at him. "Do you not understand, mortal?! I have to find her before her blood-lust continues to worsen! Do you not recall the lives she has already taken?! Soon it won't be just criminals! She will feed! She will kill without any recognition of the innocent! Is that what you want!?"

"Is that true?" Elliot asked calmly, for he was shocked and interested to hear this bit of information containing Dampire C.

"Yes," Dracula said, sounding a little less tense as well. "A dampire must always remain with their maker. If not, then their other half with not be easily dissuade when fresh blood walks so closely to them! Though, I am amazed she has lasted this long, I cannot risk her being a danger to herself and anyone else nearby! She must return to me so that I can reign in that blood-lust before it clouds her judgment even further! ENOUGH DELAYS!" Dracula growled loudly when the Detective was about to ask him another question. "I know you've seen her! You even carry some of her scent on your clothing! Tell me now before I decide to get the information I want my way! And it will not be pleasant for you, I can assure you! Now tell me! Where – is – my – dampire!?" He voiced each word with an icy authority as his blue eyes burned brightly with barely controlled rage.

Elliot didn't know what to do, for this vampire was about ready to tear into him with those fangs, or worse; his mind! However, he didn't have to think about his predicament for too long, for a feminine figure had suddenly appeared just to the Counts right while holding onto the sheath of her sword.

Dracula was about to unleash a nightmare of power at this mortal, so he can obtain what he had come for; the whereabouts of his dampire, when a familiar scent stopped him. It was so close that it had to be real! Next he heard the sound of a heartbeat pounding with the force of an energy that it was like music to his ears! He quickly spun to the side and froze at the sight before him.

"Carolyn!" He breathed in wander and relief as he took in her form. She was truly a sight for his old eyes to see again! But before he could say anything, she moved like lightning and rammed into him. He heard as well as felt something sharp rip into his chest and break through his ribcage and stab through his heart. He watched, in a daze, as she stabbed him through his chest until the point stuck out of his back and she rammed him into the wall with such force that if he had breath, it would have been lost!

He gasped in pain as a burning sensation spread like wild fire through his body, but it did not weaken him long enough for him to look into the eyes of the woman he had grown so fond of. But what he saw staring back at him, almost made him fearful! Her eyes were red and filled with a rage he couldn't hope to understand! Her black lips set in a deep frown as her nose blew out the steam that she was barely containing, and then – she smiled at him! But it was sinister and full of harmful intent!

"Hello, Master!" I hissed out the last word like it was vial as we continued to stare at each other. Oh, boy it's been too long! And just giving him this kind of pain felt good! But – he was looking pass that pain and staring back at me with his eyes. Those eyes that seemed to be holding mine (besides shock), was filled with happiness and relief. How sickening!

"Carolyn!" He breathed again as his hand reached for mine that had a tight hold on the hilt of the sword that was still in his chest. "You are alive!" I frowned, for this was not what I wanted to here! I expected words of disappointment and anger! Not someone who thinks he can care! He CAN'T care! He doesn't have a heart to care with! What the Hell!?

"More alive now than I've ever been!" I spat at him in dislike and shoved the blade even more, making his hand stop and cringe from the pain. "What are you waiting for, you idiot? Take Olivia and GET OUT OF HERE!" I shouted at the Detective below us, but he didn't move. He just stood there like a statue with his mouth half way agape; like he was deciding to swallow something or not!

"Carolyn…" Dracula's voice spoke softly to me, drawing my ever impatient mood towards him again. "I – I thought I lost you."

"You did!" I hissed and twisted the hilt, making the blade inside him also move and he twitched and cringed from the pain. "Boy, you are really full of shit! Thinking you can just waltz right in and expect me to come running back into your dead arms again! I! Don't! Think! So!" I growled each word as I made the sword turn even more inside him.

"Wh – why?" He gasped as he tried to pull the sword out, but he couldn't. It wasn't that she was too strong! Rather that the sword she was using was! A blessed sword! How cleaver of her!

"WHY!? You're asking me WHY!? I should think the answer was obvious! Count!" I yelled even louder as I pulled the blade of the sword up more, while his dark red blood began to leak onto the floor. "YOU RUINED MY LIFE! You took everything from me! My home! My friends! Even my mind!"

"Yet, it was you who drank the vial and asked me to take you instead!" He hissed back, for his own anger was starting to surface.

"ONLY so that you didn't kill my roommate and friend; who now no longer remembers my face, let alone my name, because of YOU!" I growled and bared my fangs at him so hard that they hurt to bit something! But I won't! Not him! If anything, that will only turn me more into the monster like him!

"I came to – help you! Carolyn!" He managed to spit out, even though the blessing from her sword was really starting to cause him problems with his talking. He was starting to lose too much blood, and arguing with her wasn't helping in the least!

"HA! You came to help yourself!" I stated and he stared at me in shock. "You really didn't think I would see through your real plan here? All you want is for me to be under that cape of yours like a good little slave!" I growled and twisted the hilt the other way now, making him hiss in pain as his blue eyes narrowed at me. "Well NO MORE! All this talk about me losing control of my other half are LIES! That's all you ever do! That's all you're ever capable of to get what you want! Well, I've had enough!"

"Carolyn! Just listen to what I have to –!"

"STOP SAYING THAT NAME!" I screeched, my fangs in full view as my eyes burned crimson. Boy he's really pissing me off! Doesn't he get it? I don't want to be his bitch again! "You! You have no right to call me that again! Don't you get it at all? YOU! BROKE! MY! HEART!"

He froze this time. His eyes clearly ignoring the pain that my sword was giving him as they bore into mine with an unbelievable realization. I mentally slapped at myself a dozen times. I shouldn't have said that! But it was true!

"Carolyn… I – OAF!"

I pulled my sword from his wretched undead corps, seeing as I found no glory in stabbing him today; I might as well just leave. He slid to the ground as his blood slowly flowed back into his body; repairing any damages that I inflicted.

I turned my gaze away from him and stared down at Elliot in dislike. The guy was sooo thick in the skull; I'd think I have to kick him again for it to work! With a wave of my arm that held my sword, Dracula's blood came off easily and decorated the floor before me. I placed it back in my sheath and hopped down to where Elliot and the still sleeping Olivia was. The Detective gave a surprising jolt at my 'leap' but said nothing as I shoved him aside and lifted Olivia from the table. Giving a fierce look at Stabler; silently telling him to go, he did not argue back as he started to follow me out of the building.

"Carolyn!" Dracula called out to me, but I didn't turn to face him.

"Go home, Count!" I spat out angrily, my voice echoing back to him. "There's nothing for you here! Go find some other weak wench to screw over! Cause I'll have no part of it anymore!"

"Why, Carolyn!?" He shouted out in his own angry voice, making me stop and then I felt his cool presents in my head. Why would you think that I broke your heart?

For a moment, I thought about what I said, and then I remembered what he had called me back then. "Why? You really don't remember what you said about me?" I asked and he stared back at me in confusion. He wants me to repeat his own words!? Fine! I've rephrased them for so long I might as well just get them out into the open again! Now I have an even better excuse!

"'I will not waist such a prize for petty things such as feelings!'" I started, mixed with a bit of his accent in it. "'She is a tool! Incompetent in the ways of a true vampire! If she does not realize this by now then she is a fool!'"

Count Dracula heard and then… he remembered! He had said those words! It was when he was conversing with Ranfield about C and… Oh, no! She was there behind the door and she –!

"That's right!" I spat up at him as he closed his eyes in despair. "I heard every single word that night! And – you were right!" His eyes snapped back open at me, "I was a fool! A fool to believe that we could – that you could ever feel!" I quickly re-corrected, but it was too late. For he already saw through me, or at least he thought he could. "So go home!" I said again, waving him away as I easily balanced Olivia's form with one arm. "Go home and find someone of your own kind! And leave me alone!" I quickly turned away then, trying to ignore how the edges of my eyes burned with unshed tears. I'm not going to cry! I'm not going to cry! Not in front of him! I thought as I continued to walk out of the building along with Elliot following closely on my heels.

"You think that was a smart idea, C?" Elliot asked as we quickly came to the fire EXIT door. Without answering him, I kicked open the metal door so hard that it flew off its rusting hinges and into the empty alleyway. I was pissed! Everything that should have gone like I planned, just went up in smoke! Damn him! Damn him to Hell!

When we finally made it outside, the clouds were still there and it looked like it was going to rain again, but I ignored it as I spotted Detectives Tutuola and Munch waiting by an ambulance along with their Captain. I sighed and walked over to them as he spotted me carrying Olivia. He made a hand motion to the two Medics in the van, and they climbed out to open the back doors and pulled out the stretcher.

"What happened? Is she okay?" Tutuola immediately asked, but I ignored him and moved passed the others so I could set Benson down on the bed. Once her head was on the cheap pillow, I began to massage her temples and slowly allowed my own mental voice to wake her up.

Olivia Benson. Wake up. Everyone is waiting for you.

C? Her inner voice recognized me and she began to moan and move a little. A little too slow for my liking, I gave her a full bitch-slap to her left cheek, but not too hard to break something. The men behind me flinched at the harsh sound but didn't say anything. Startled by the sudden pain and violence on her face, Olivia's brown orbs snapped wide open and gazed at me in wonder. "C!" She gasped at me as she found her voice. "Ow!" She spat and rubbed at the sore spot on her face.

"You'll be fine," I grumbled and walked away so that the Medic team can give her a full examination.

"Liv," Elliot walked over to her in relief as Olivia insisted that she can sit up now. "How are you?"

"Except for the slap to my face, fine!" She accused rather miffly at me as she waved away the Medics off of her.

"You – don't remember anything after last night?" He asked as the rest surrounded her for questioning while I kept watch of the building.

"Last night?" She asked as Tutuola handed her phone back to her. "Last night… I… I… OH God! I met Dracula! He –!"

"We know, Liv. C went and saved you," Her Captain said and patted her shoulder to calm her down.

"Oh, well. Thank you, C," She said and then frowned when her face still hurt. "But you didn't have to hit me!"

"Only way wake you up from that kind of daze," I said emotionlessly and without turning to face them.

"So she was hypnotized," Munch said and Olivia sat there stunned, yet all the same felt completely violated! She had come close to rape one before, but this was different! It was like the guy had drugged her using only his mind! She could do nothing to stop him as her memories of that night were completely gone! She could remember nothing of what she told him or how he got her to this remote location!

"God! It was awful!" Olivia rubbed her face with both hands, for she was getting sick and tired of the vampire world. She wanted her normal cases again! The kind that doesn't involve the supernatural BS!

"C?" Elliot approached me slowly, for the conversation of Dracula and 'yours truly' was still running ramped in his mind. "Was what he said true?"

"Be specific," I growled as I refused to face him. "There are a lot of things he said in there. I can tell you right now that none of them are true."

"He said what now?" Tutuola asked, now butting in on the conversation.

"He said that a Dampire's existence isn't supposed to be free," Elliot said calmly as I tighten my fists in anger. How dare he imply that! He doesn't know anything about real vampires to be making any kind of assumptions like that! "That – if she doesn't get help from a full vampire, she's going to lose control of her blood-lust."

A low growl caused everyone to freeze, and before Elliot knew it, he was hanging a foot of the ground as my hand clenched at his throat. "Dose this imply I have no control, Detective!?" I hissed as my eyes turned bloody red. "How DARE you believe the bullshit that comes out of his mouth! And I thought you people were smarter than that!"

"C!" Captain Cragen put a hand on the holster of his gun, but did not draw it out as the others stood their ground while Elliot continued to choke in my grasp. With all the authority he could muster, Cragen took one step towards me. "Put! Him! Down! – Now!"

I turned to him and gave an evil hiss, but he did not back down. He was a Captain. A leader to his people, and so he had to defend them like a leader should. With another violent growl, I slowly unclasped my fingers around Elliot's throat, but without lowering my arm. The man fell, but landed on his feet and quickly bent down so that he could control the airway to his lungs again. Lowering my arm, I watched how each one of them was looking at me, almost fearfully. Rather it was for my life or there's, even I knew I was in the wrong at that moment. Still steaming, I clenched my teeth and walked away, not even looking back as Olivia started to call out for me.

"C! Wait!" Detective Benson made to jump off of the stretcher and chase after the Dampire, but her Captain stopped her.

"Let her go, Olivia," Don said as he kept a hand on her shoulder. "Let her cool off for a while."

"Well, it's obvious that she's pissed about her Ex being in town!" Munch stated calmly.

"Ya – well! From what I heard! Those two have a pretty dark history!" Elliot finally spoke out once he was feeling better.

"Let's talk about it at HQ and not in the rain," Their Captain sighed as he headed for his own car right after dismissing the Medical Team.

Count Dracula was still in the building, yet he had observed the scene from a window. He saw how C had grabbed one of the men and almost strangled him to death. Though he admired the Captain for making her stop, he still could not blame her. It was his fault why she ran away into the woods that night! His fault that she was caught and sentenced to some horrible fate! Though he still didn't know how she came to be in this city, all he got out of the female Detective was that she 'came from the sea.' Whatever the Hell that meant he knew he wasn't going to like it once he found out! But still – despite her hatred for him, he had to help her! Despite the fact that she said that she had grown feelings for him, leaving him so shocked it left him aching inside even now; he still couldn't leave her like this!

But, he also realized that he would be unable to do this alone. These mortals that work together solving crimes and such. Perhaps they could help him? Though he hatted asking for help; this time he really needed it. And although they may not take too kindly with him showing up at their place of operations, he knew as well as they did; there was no other option. It was time to meet them and talk over this problem in person!

"Sore throat?" One of the secretaries asked Elliot as he walked in while still rubbing his neck.

"Something like that," He horsed out coolly. That did hurt! He knew C was upset and going through an emotional time, but she still didn't have to go and hang him like that!

"Alright! Everybody file in!" Cragen pointed to his office as his four Detectives obeyed and grabbed a chair. Closing and locking the door behind him, their Captain turned to walk behind his desk. "Somebody start talking! And nobody is leaving here until I get every detail about what happened today!"

"I assure you, Captain. There is more than to the story than most of you already know," A deep and thick accent voice made them all freeze in their socks. It took only a moment for Cragen to gaze around everyone when he spotted a fifth person leaning against the far corner; looking contempt.

"Jesus Christ!" Elliot breathed aloud and almost fell from his seat in shock as everyone gaped at the vampire that stood behind them.

"I would prefer that you do not invoke that name in my presence," Dracula wrinkled his nose at the man in dislike.

"How the Hell did you get in here!?" Tutuola stared at the man and then looked back at the office door, which still held the locked bolt in place.

"Despite what all of you have read on my kind; closed doors do not work on me," He grinned and he spotted how Olivia Benson was reaching for her gun. "Nor do any of your guns! Though they do leave a rather large mess upon my attire. Do refrain yourselves from using those things. I have only come to talk, as it were."

"Well, that's comforting!" Munch said rather stiffly as he watched how the Captain slowly went to sit down in his chair. "For a moment I thought we were in a horror film!"

"You must understand," The Count said as most of the Detectives moved to stand near their Captain, feeling a great need for protection and/or protecting him. "The horrors, as you put, have only just begun! As I have told you already!" He pointed a pale finger and Elliot and the man swallowed some.

"So," The Captain said after rubbing his forehead for a full minute before turning to face the old aristocrat again. "How should we begin this?"

"As always, Captain, to understand any story is to start from its beginning," Dracula smirked as the five mortal officers continued to stare at him, but few were feeling a little more interested giving the Count a chance to finally show these people what they were up against!

Back again! Yes, it took me a while to figure this one out, but I think I got it! Hope you like it because I do! : D And thank you for all your awesome REVIEWS! They really keep me going! BUT – I will continue this story so don't you worry, my readers! Despite all this emotion (holds a box of tissue in one hand) it will come out … OOPS! Spoilers! Can't give the ending away! That would just ruin it all for ya!

REVIEW and REVIEW and REVIEW and I will see you all later! If not; have a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year! Oh boy! All that food is gonna cause me to hibernate for the rest of the winter! I hope not for I am starting the next Chapter now! Good night and God bless!

Love to all; BR2