Night soon settled in as Van Helsing went through the gates of the Vatican. No checking bags or valuables. No one really seemed to care. The priests were all silent. It was well passed midnight and Penelope was wide awake though.

Alert and turning her head. It was an odd eerie feeling. Snipping at Snyder as they dismounted hearing nothing. There was no one in the square. But then again this was an odd time. No templars anywhere. No one approaching them.

"Where are the templars?" asked Snyder.

He was annoyed. Van Helsing had made him rehearse being mute so that they could play the sympathy card. Mute halfling, that would get them a lot of leeway and diminish their thoughts of Snyder-- a grown man of 5 foot 11 inches and half vampire--- that's a good mix.

"Van Helsing?" hissed Snyder.

"Shh! I don't know where they are!" snapped Van Helsing. Snyder needed to be quiet so he could listen.

"Wait...where's Penelope?" asked Van Helsing.

"What?" Snyder turned around looking. The little girl was just right here. She had just been right next him.

Penelope disappeared through the large door of one of the Cathedrals. "Penelope!" hissed Snyder rushing forward.

"Damn it! Wait!" snapped Van Helsing sprinting to follow as they both burst through the doors.

There was a constant humming. "Mmm....Mmm...." it was deep and dark vibrating against the walls. The candles melting and the templars sitting on their knees hands tied in heavy iron chains.

"Crap!" muttered Van Helsing.

"Penelope!" yelled Snyder. The priests kept humming as the little girl shrieked pulled by a slick hand.

Snyder flinched staring. That man... that was the man who had attacked Van Helsing at the cabin. The lackey who Reverend had left chained to the tree. "You... you-- Let her go!" yelled Snyder.

"Oh no, I think I'll keep this little one" said a dark voice. Snyder shuddered as the room seemed to crack at the presence of Dracula. The bats colliding and building together. The long black cape and his face pale. Those sunken eyes with tired bags. His fangs were small but easy to see. Blood shot red.

"Kneel" he ordered.

Snyder felt his body slam onto the ground shaking. This power.... oh god. He was shaking. He couldn't move. Van Helsing was in the same state.

"You really are too predictable Van Helsing.... coming for your priestly friend. He's very devoted to you" chuckled Dracula.

Van Helsing shook sweating as he looked up to Friar who was pulled in roughly. "Let go! Let go you fools! I'll have you crucified for this!" snapped Friar.

"Oh but crosses don't work on me" whispered Dracula his eyes silting.

"Damn it! Let Penelope go!" yelled Snyder again.

"Disobedient dog" smirked Dracula.

Snyder's cheek smacked against the tile "Aw!" his fingers curled as he tried to fight pushing. He almost managed but the power only slapped him down again. Snyder glared at his hand feeling it harden and glisten.

"A halfling has a talent? Oh... isn't this something" said Dracula amused.

"Shut up!" hissed Snyder.

"So... where is the fair beast?" asked Dracula sitting down and crossed his legs motioning for Penelope to be brought closer.

"Oh you don't want her to come" warned Van Helsing.

"I beg to differ.... I want her to come.... but sometimes things need a little push" said Dracula tapping Penelope's arm. She let out a scream as it distorted and snapped shattering.

"Stop!" yelled Snyder.

"Not until she comes" mused Dracula tapping her shoulder inflicting more pain crushing it.

Penelope was sobbing. But neither Snyder or Van Helsing could do anything. The templars were likely on the verge of breaking their human form but couldn't move.

"Please....please... please.... you.... you promised" whispered Penelope as Dracula reached for her chest. Sneering this was going to be fun.

Snyder's eyes dilated as the count's fingers were caught And Reverend swooped Penelope with her other arm. Springing back Reverend heaved. She raised her middle finger to her mouth biting it. Her grey eyes softly looking towards Penelope.

"I'm sorry I was late", said Reverend. Her palm desecrated. Penelope was crying tears streaming down as Reverend let a drop of blood fall onto her lips.

Snyder shoved up his skin prickling, so did Van Helsing huffing.

"So... the beautiful beast comes" said Dracula. "Oh... was the welcome not enough?", asked Dracula looking at her state.

Snyder couldn't see and neither could Penelope. But the entire front left half of Reverend was torn still ruined from the former fight.

"Seems Viviane did a her job harshly", said Dracula his eyes silting.

Reverend handed Penelope to Snyder. Snyder wanted to object floating at her condition.

"Good god" whispered Van Helsing as she just turned again.

"Kneel" Dracula said his eyes flashing. A pillar collapsed and Reverend didn't move.

"Kneel? I?", she asked her breath getting cold. But at the same time sparks of ember come out of her mouth.

The Templars glared, "Leave both you beasts! Do not desecrate this holy sight any longer with your presence!", yelled one angrily.

Reverend glanced at him staring. What was with her? She was silent. Different. Not snappish with her remarks.

"As you wish" said Reverend.

"Snyder", she then said.

"I leave Penelope in your care" said Reverend.

"Hezelwiggins...." Reverend looked back.

She just stared. "I'm going to be in a bad mood after this", she huffed.

Van Helding and Snyder frowned. She was making a very depressing moment and now ruined it.

"As much as chatting is great darling let's get down to business. Men!", yelled Dracula.

The priests stood in unison and Reverend tipped her hat with her long finger nails.

"Sweet heart, beautiful beast don't make me do this the hard way" said Dracula.

"Kill them, the famous Reverend is mine!", hissed Dracula his teeth shooting out.

"One scratch is all I need", whispered Reverend. She would have to do this quickly and that meant-

"Reverend move!" yelled Snyder.

But she didn't move. Just stood there gagging as Dracula's hand tore through her chest. The Templar's themselves were stunned. This woman had gone mad. Half of them didn't really care how the vampires were going to tear at each others throats. 

Her hat fell off fluttering to the ground. "What is it lovely can't heal?", asked Dracula amused. He was almost worried though. Had he over done himself? He didn't want her dead. He wanted her. He just so dearly wanted her. He could smell her. The sweet pure scent. The hunter who hunted him. Haunted him and taunted him from the shadows was finally in the light of the moon.

Blood spewed from her mouth. Reverend could feel her eyes get heavy. Not yet... not yet. She raised her head in the silence.

"No.... I'll heal just fine.... but you're bleeding.... and your men are all already dead" she whispered.

Van Helsing flinched as the hooded figures crumbled blood oozing onto the marble floor.

"Well...well... you really are remarkable-"

Reverend grip suddenly hardened. Her nails drilled into his sleeve and skin tearing it so easily.

Dracula swung his fist but he roared as Reverend clamped down on it her teeth sinking in.

Dracula's face began to morph and distort as he was enraged starting the try and change. What?! Still so much strength even after his attack? Dracula himself had the power to burst the wind from touch. Her insides shouldn't allow her to move! Unless......-! Reverend chuckled interrupting his thoughts breathing heavily. 

"You torment men... women.... children... you are no vampire. You are no noble... and will pay for your sins with your blood..." growled Reverend her eyes silting into a bright harmful red and Dracula's face split. It was a gaze that could cut to the bone.

But it was not just that. It was a gaze of rule. Power and singularity. Snyder covered Penelope as he saw the blood from the dead bodies begin to rise and soared towards the two as they were stuck and interlocked disappearing in the swirl of red. 

No one could see through the monstrous thing that was no thing at all. 

"My Count!" called the servant stunned. 

'How could one have such power!? This defies all laws of nature!' 

The count began to shake as his eyes sunk back. "You think that I've lived all these centuries to not having prepared for this encounter?!" asked Dracula. 

"Oh I don't doubt that..... in fact I'm disappointed that you couldn't muster anymore strength after all the time I took to prepare myself!" roared Reverend. 

"Reverend you're mad! That skill is going to kill you!" shrieked Hezzelwiggins but his voice was deafened away as the blood swarmed around them consuming them. The servant reached for the swarm only to have his fingers torn off from the speed and might. 

He stumbled back. He had to get away. Surely the Count was dead. He had to go. He had to leave. 

Van Helsing opened his eyes as there was a sudden silence. Reverend was standing there coat torn and arm ruined. Her hat scattered who knows where. The Templar's gawked as she breathed bloodied and exhausted. 

Snyder could see straight through her. Straight through that almost perfect hole. The place was desecrated. 

"Bloody hell....she actually did it" whispered Van Helsing. 

"Reverend are you-!" Synder was thrown off against a pillar as Reverend lost her entire composure. Her teeth snapping out and nails encroached out as she reached towards Penelope who was frightened at the gawking red eyes forced to shut them painfully as her cheek gained a wound with no contact. 

Van Helsing though was quick slamming into the deranged Reverend tossing her out. He himself had changed. Massive half man half wolf. 

"Get the other templars out of those bindings!" he ordered to Snyder. 

"Why!?" yelled Snyder. 

"Because your companion just lost control and is starving!" yelled another Templar glaring angrily. 

Starving...