I'm back! Thanks to everyone who reviewed last chapter and also to everyone who read it as well. Without you guys this story wouldn't be where it is today. Well, enough from me. On with the story!

The weeks passed by, and very little had changed in Verona's mood. One night Dracula was in his study. He had been there for quite awile, trying to find something that would help bring his children to life, in a hope to pull Verona out of her depression. He knew that that was the only thing that would be able to do it.

Starting to grow weary from his work, he decided that he would travel to Budapest for a few days. He thought it was best to go alone, since it was a business affair. His brides would quickly become bored with the whole ordeal and start begging him to return home.

As he left his office, Dracula decided to visit his younger brides' chambers to tell them of his departure, but also to warn them. He knew that Verona's temper was no laughing matter and that she could and would easily kill them if they did anything to upset her, especially in this very emotional time for her.

The first room that he arrived at was that of Marishka's. He lightly knocked on the door. When it was opened, Marishka peered outside, but when she saw that it was Dracula, she threw open the door and wrapped her arms around his neck and kissed him.

"Oh Master, I hadn't expected it being you."

"And why is that?"

"Well, usually when Verona is mad, no one leaves their room."

He let a small smile come across his face and let out a small chuckle. He then placed a kiss on her forehead. "I'm going to have to leave for a few days."

"Oh Master, must you?"

"Alas, I must. It is bussiness my dear."

"It will be so lonesome without you."

"There are your sisters here."

Marishka hung her head in disappointment. "At least Aleera will be here to talk to,"

"Just do not bother Verona. I do not want bloodshed while I am gone."

"Yes Master," she said.

"I will see you in a week's time."

She then kissed him again before he left her room. He then headed towards Aleera's room, which was just down the hall. When he reached her room, the door was already open. As he approached, Aleera quickly popped her head out of the door, and when she realized it was him, she ran as fast as she could to his side and placed kisses all over his face. Dracula tried to pull away, but with Aleera's persitantness, he evetually gave into her demands.

After a few minutes of Aleera's frenzy, "My dear, we need to talk."

"Yes, my lord?"

"I am leaving for a few days…"

"I will be packed in just a few minutes,"

"Aleera,"

"I promise it won't take long,"

"Aleera!" She then stopped with her arguing. "I am going alone; it is a business trip."

"Oh," she said half heartidly as she hung her head.

"You would be bored out of your mind, my dear. Besides, I thought that you would like it better if you stayed here with your sisters."

"But it isn't the same without you," she said as she ran her fingers through Dracula's hair, which was up in its usual ponytail.

"But while I am gone, will you do me one favor?"

"Anything for you my love."

"Leave Verona alone. She still isn't in any mood for company yet."

"Trust me, I wasn't planning on it," she said under her breath.

Dracula then gave her a stern look, "Aleera…"

Aleera slightly blushed and quietly said, "Sorry Master."

She then returned to her room, and as she did, Dracula turned in the opposite direction towards Verona's room. He pasued before knocking on the door, just to make sure that she wasn't in one of her moods. After hearing it completely silent inside for a minute, he knocked on the door and walked into the room after hearing his eldest bride bid him entry.

As he entered the room, Verona was sitting on the edge of her bed and turned her head towards him. Her face still had sorrow etched upon it, despite the weeks that had passed by.

Dracula casually walked into the room and then sat down beside his bride. In an attempt to comfort her, he placed his hand on hers and slowly made circles on the back of her hand with his tumb. Verona then laid her head on his shoulder and let a sigh escape her.

"How are you this evening?"

It took Verona a minute to find her voice, for she had not spoken to anyone since that tragic night. "I still feel empty on the inside, an emptyness that she used to fill."

"I know," he said as he placed a kiss on the top of her head. "Trust me in the fact that all of us miss her very much, and even though she is gone, that will never change how much you or she loved each other."

Verona shut her eyes tightly to contain the tears that ached to be shed. She could not let her master see her in this weak state, for she was the one that he turned to when things started to prove difficult.

"Despite your attmepts, my dear, I know of the feelings that you harbor inside. You forget that I still have a bond with you that can not be broken." Verona didn't respond. "I came here my dear to tell you of my departure. I have business to attend to in Budapest."

Without looking up at him, Verona asked, "How long will you be gone this time?"

"It should be no more than a week."

Verona let out as small sigh as she stood up and walked over to the window. "Very well, I shall see you in one week's time."

Dracula then stood up and walked over to his bride. "Will you try to get out of this phase of yours? I want the old Verona back." Verona didn't utter a single word. Dracula then cupped her chin in his hand and turned her head towards him. Although her face was a cold as ice, her eyes showed the sorrow that she still harbored inside. A simple nod was all that Verona used to show her agreement.

And then after a quick, but sensual kiss, he left Verona's room and headed down to the cariage waiting for him. As soon as he closed the door and was seated, the carriage jolted forward down the mountain, on its long journey to Budapest.

Along the winding road through the Carpathians and the forest that surrounded, Dracula let his mind start to wander, a habit of his that he did not usually have to do. His thoughts started to drift towards his brides, ecspecially Verona.

Yes, he had always had a soft spot for her because she was his first bride, but he had tried to not let it show. He knew that if the other two saw that they were not favored as much as their eldest sister, tempers would rise and a possible war would break out. He knew that Marishka would not mind as much, since she was able to release her emotions in a healthy fashion. His main concern was Aleera. Despite the fact that she was probably the most loyal out of the three, she was also the hardest to control, mainly when she became jealous.

With the spotlight have been on Verona for as long as it had, Dracula knew that Aleera's patience was wearing thin and that her temper and jealousy were starting to grow. He hoped that his trip would prove helpful to releive some of the tenssion that was starting to form amongst his brides.

In order to take his mind off of his brides, he looked out the window and, to his pleasure, saw that the carriage was nearing the city limits. As the carriage entered the city, people on the streets were all watching and pointing at the carriage, for it had been quite some time since anyone of such high social class had been in the city.

The cariage took Dracula right up to the gates of his summer palace. He quickly walked through the great hall to his chambers. As he entered his room, he layed down in his coffin to rest for the day. He knew that he had a lot of work ahead of him later that night.

Once the sun had set, Dracula arose and had his servants ready his carriage to take him to the city's medical university. Rumor had it that there had been a theory that dead tissue could be re-animated. Dracula had schedualed a meeting with the professor who had come up with this theory. If the experiments to prove this theory worked, there was still hope that it would work for his children as well.

Hmm...what will happen next? I hope that you liked it! Please don't forget to review!(usually more reviews make updates come sooner ;))