A/N: Had some spare time to put up another chapter. Could've been done yesterday night, but since my favorite show was coming on at that time, I just couldn't miss it. The last episode was left such a dramatic cliffhanger! -Ahem- Anyways, thanks to those who have read and reviewed and thanks to Celtic Aurora for keeping my hopes high at all times. Now, let us proceed with the story...

Chapter 6: Children of the Beast

Dracula was impatient and almost anxious. Once more he awaited foe his children to come to life. Marishka was dead, thank you in turn of their new visitor. And Nathalia. He has no intention to kill or damn her existence. On the contrary, she was the only one who was capable of taming the beast within him, made him feel... alive. Something about her caught his interest and sparked a fire inside him, but he could not describe it even to himself.

"Igor?" he called out to his new partner in crime. They were all back in Castle Frankenstein, the equipment ready as the Dwerger prepared the machine that would give his children the life they needed.

Igor looked back at his master. "Yes, Master?"

"How long before we are ready?"

"Soon, Master. Very soon." Igor said as he pushed the Dwerger and mumbled at them in their own native language as he pushed one of them aside. "It is difficult without the good doctor, but the Dwerger, they are doing well."

Soon, Dracula thought. Igor pushed a switch that powered the entire lab for the experiment. Only thing left to do was to wait for his 'pet'. Dracula smiled. "Good."

ooo

Anna, Gabriel and Nathalia rode their horses as the followed Velkan's trail. Through the whole trip, Nathalia was lost. All she could think was of Velkan's tearing off as he released the beast from within. "Nathalia? Nathalia."

The voice that had called her was Gabriel's. He was beside her own horse and Anna was well on the lead. "Are you all right? You're... You're bleeding." he said.

She realized that she was crying, but she wasn't just shedding tears. She was shedding blood. She wiped them away. "I'm- I'm all right." she assured him, sniffing. "We- We should catch up to Anna. We wouldn't want to lose her."

He didn't try to argue or anything. Instead, he did as she had suggested. Nathalia was in no mood to discuss of anything. All she wanted to do was find Velkan and save him. For Anna's sake.

Nathalia then realized that Velkan's trail was leading them toward Castle Frankenstein. She stopped the horse and dismounted the steed. She was already heading straight to the castle where everything had begun.

ooo

Anna had also stopped her horse when she saw Nathalia walking ahead of both her and Van Helsing. "Where is she heading?" the hunter asked her, curious as to where Nathalia was heading.

"It's hard to explain." Anna said. They both dismounted their horses and walked right beside Nathalia. "For me this is all personal. It's all about family and honor. Why do you do it? This job of yours?" Anna asked the hunter. Both were examining the large footprints Velkan had left, but it seemed as though Nathalia was heading onward by instinct. "What do you hope to get out of it?"

"I don't know. Maybe it's for self realization."

"And what have you got out of it so far?"

Van Helsing's attention was directed to something stuck on a branch. "Nightmares." he replied softly to her question as he plucked what was on the branch and examined it. Fur.

ooo

Nathalia had ignored the conversation Anna and Gabriel were having as a voice whispered to her.

Nathalia...

She walked ahead. Someone needed her. Someone wanted her. That sensation sent a chill don her spine, either of pain or pleasure.

Nathalia...

"Nathalia!" someone shook her out of her trance. Anna was staring back at her, concern all over he face. "Anna?" Nathalia whispered.

"Maybe you should go back. You haven't been yourself lately." Anna said.

"I'am all right. No need to worry about me." Nathalia lied. She wasn't all right. The barrier she had built in her mind was fading. She was more vulnerable to the link now. As they all headed toward the castled, Gabriel asked a question. "What is this place?"

"Castle Frankenstein." Nathalia answered with much dread in her voice. "But it should be abandoned."

"I don't understand. The man who lived here was killed a year ago. Grave robber, among other things." Anna said, staring at the castle ahead. There was something going on inside and it seemed Velkan wasn't alone.

"A year ago?" Gabriel inquired. "It was just after that that your father went missing."

"Yes. He was looking for Dracula. He was on his way to the sea." Anna's voice seemed to drift as she stared into nothing. "I've never been to the sea."

Gabriel's face seemed to softened at the rise of interest in the princess' voice.

"I'll bet it's beautiful." she said softly. She looked at him as though she had done something wrong and awaited for his scolding. But he only gave her a warm smile.

NATHALIA!! NATHALIA!! NATHALIA!!

"Aah!" Nathalia screamed, covering her ears as she fell on her knees, grunting in pain. "stop it!" she screamed. Her eyes were closed shut. It was too intense.

ooo

Van Helsing was the first to react to Nathalia's sudden outburst. He got on his knees beside her and so did Anna. He cradled her in his arms when she began to shake violently.

"It has to be Dracula." he told Anna. A spark of hate flared in her eyes for a brief moment. Damn him. Damn Dracula!, Anna thought harshly.

When Nathalia had finally stopped, she puled away gently. "Nathalia?" he called her. Her face was emotionless, almost as though she were sleepwalking. "He is here."

ooo

"She is here." Dracula said, a smile spreading over his face. She has come back to him and this time, it would seem, she was no longer struggling against his control. His smile only broadened. "Perfect."

ooo

They were all inside the castle's walls, more determined than ever. They walked down a large hall, torches lighting their way. Nothing of importance in the main hall, they all headed toward a second hall or what seemed to be a hall. What was inside made Nathalia stop dead in her tracks and stare at the thousands of thousands of greenish cocoons, all gooey and slimy. As they walked, Gabriel asked Anna a question. "You ever see these things before?"

"No. What do you think they are?" Anna asked him. Before he could answer, Nathalia did it for him. "Offspring."

"What?" Anna said, more disgusted than confused. "A man with three gorgeous women for 400 years..." Gabriel trailed off.

"Yes. Vampires are the walking dead. It only makes sense their children are born dead." Anna whispered, not wanting Nathalia to overhear, but she already knew what Anna was talking about.

'He's obviously trying to bring them to life." Gabriel said, his hand touching a wire that lead up to one of the cocoons. Nathalia wandered off, Gabriel nor Anna had seen her. Dracula was here and she needed to find him.

ooo

Van Helsing saw that their path was cluttered with cocoon sacks that hung from pillars and some even hung by each other. He cleared his throat. "Ladies first."

Anna gave him a menacing look. He sighed as he stepped in the cluttered hall and pushed the cocoons aside. There was some electrical sparking as they pushed through. The thunderclap from outside bounced off the walls and echoed. As they stepped out the mess and saw that not only were the cocoons hung in one place, but the whole hall was filled with them.

"Dracula and his bides only kill one or two people a month.' he repeated the fact from the now deceased undertaker. "If he brings all these things to life-" He didn't finish the sentence because he knew that Anna would know as well.

ooo

Nathalia was in the balcony that stared down the hall below, where all the cocoons were as the last spark of life electrified through them all as they brought Dracula's children to life. Pygmy vampires popped out of their cursed sacks as they all screeched almost happily. "Our children live." a voice said behind her. Dracula appeared along with Aleera and Verona. Both women stared at their children with wonder and delight as Nathalia and Dracula stared at each other defiantly. He smiled at her. "Hello, Nathalia, my love."

A/N: What's this? Dracula, addressing Nathalia as his 'love'? Who knew a vampire as hollow and heartless as he could have such feverish love for a woman, a vampire at that! Dont worry, you'll find out more about Dracula's... love affair with Nathalia. But does Nathalia feel the same way for him as she did before? You will learn about this in later chapters, just... not now. Ciao!

With much love,

Luna