“Not many.” Sabin answered as he looked at her. If he saw the thoughts that had been flowing through her head he did not show it. He asked her to think about something.

“Consider a mother and a child. That mother is responsible for that child and it would hardly be fair to bring that child into a cruel world devoid of void where conditions were, well ill suited for life. Think of a Master vampire in such loose terms. We can generate spawn but if we generate too many then there will be little blood to go around.

“Mostly I do not turn individuals lightly. They must possess some unique skill I desire to possess of course or be somewhat interesting or offer up special talents so to speak. Rarely do I turn people to safeguard myself form them but did so in regards to your sister and since I did not want to advertise that I had a weapon, however defunct, in my possession I had rumors spread of her demise like the countless women who perished before here. Suffice it to say that my family still needs to eat.

"A... Weapon?" I replied.

What he said made perfect sense in the terms that he gave them. I would, after all want to provide for my own children! But, talking about my sister as a weapon puzzled me. He had already said that we were likely half sisters and she lacked my "gifts".. so what kind of weapon was he talking about?

As for the rest of what he said, it was as expected but it made me shiver, once again. As if I didn't already have enough reminders what these Vampires were capable of! However, I kept my position at Sabins side, my gaze still looking out over the moon drenched fields.

Anne remained at his side as she spoke. It was clear to Sabin she was trying to make sense out of a few things and probably even considering where her sister fit in. It seemed that his orders once Daffney told him about a little bit about Anne had been uneeded as he wanted to keep the two apart. Daffney could not betray him, though he was well aware she could still plot against him and wasn't turned all that long ago either and probably could be persuaded to do something, such as leaving a door unlocked, grating her a certain piece of intel …

“Yes, different strengths in Vlad's bloodline unlock certain abilities. I have not tested you much but I would say that you were gifted with defensive abilities, maybe even more should your memory return. You sister had offensive powers though they are weaker then I initially thought so I wouldn't be able to use them for my purposes against my Master though she is an excellent bodyguard so I keep her around.”

He grinned beneath his mask. She would have probably thought he was sexiest in giving her the duties that kept her close of course but it was saying a lot if he wanted her here more than Sig. Sig was too primal, at least Daffney was more civilized and what he was looking for even if she couldn't be used in the ways he intended she was more than a match for lesser vampires like Sig and Gustov.

It made sense. And since I had been a little annoyed at Daffney being "in the kitchen" so to speak I really had no words to say about that. So she was a bodyguard, more refined than Sigfried... And almost certainly someone to keep him company in bed too.

The thought made my stomach turn. Despite the fact that I had myself kept this Vampire company in bed was one thing. The thought of having to do so on command for hundreds of years? It really wasn't a thought I liked, and again, was very VERY glad I had so far talked him out of it.

"So... What happens now?" I asked. It seemed that I was safe for now, although I knew that once Sabin had come up with his plan against his own master my life would get very busy, and very dangerous rather quickly. Not just from the fact i'ld be facing down a old vampire, but also because once Sabin had no use for me... could I trust him not to turn me?

I didn't know...

A good question of course as Sabin turned slightly in her direction. If he was aware or suspected the thoughts that were going through her head he said nothing though he reflected on what she had to tell him today.

“I believed I was ready to make my move and destroy my Master but in light of this new information I will have to speak with this hunter first, perhaps he can offer something in exchange for his life after all and we will be done with the influence of the Master … for now I invite you to take in my hospitility as as I rethink things in light of these new developments.”

He gazed at her, reaching out with a hand and slidding his fingers down the warmth of her neck, running along one of the throbbing veins there then tracing against a shoulder before that hand feel away. “Yes … I think his desire to drink will over ride his senses ...”

As his fingers grazed down my neck I stepped back, away from Sabin, shivering in spite of the warm night. I realised that I had just my role in Sabins plans. I was to be bait.

Deep within, I wasn't really suprised at this turn of events. After all, with my innate resistance of being made to do anything that I didn't want to and the fact that I was.. well.. for want of a better term "tasty" I would make a perfect sacrifical lamb.

The only catch is the entire "sacrifice" part. If something went wrong then it would be the bait that would be eaten. I really didn't like this idea. I REALLY didn't like this idea at all! But what choice did I have?

My only solace lay in that Kurt might be able help if something did go wrong. After all, he was human too and technically he was related to me!

"Well... in which case shall we go and see Kurt?" I asked, trying to cover up my extreme discomfort at my fears becoming reality. I hoped feverently that this would be the first and last time that my fears were proven correct, although I had a horrible feeling it wasn't going to be.

She shrank back with that touch and it must have been too apparent that she displayed at least a little fear there. She considered what he was capable of, what he had intended and gave though of things going hobbible werong.

“Chances are fair that he won't even be amiss of anything different until it is much too late. As it was I would have been ignorant of that if my minions telling me about your strange gifting that I had to test first hand. Come.”

e lead her back thoubgh his estates to Kurt's cell going though a secret passage that coonected this room to another.

I was rather thankful that he didn't press me. The small motion on my neck really had discomforted me and I was most glad as he turned, leading me through a door that I would never have guessed was there.

A small part of my mind giggled in a rather insane manner at the idea of secret doors in a large castle. So cliche! But I supressed it with a sharp mental "glare". I really wasn't in a good mood and I wanted to calm my emotions that felt more than a little unsettled.

As we walked through the narrow corridor I worked on them, trying to supress the extreme worry I held, and by the time we arrived at Kurts cell I was more in control of myself.

Sabin lead her to Kurt's cell pausing outsode the oak door. “He's loose ...” Sabin could probably hear him behind the door, Yes, the steady heart beat that thumped in his ears told him that Kut was near the door hoping to get the drop on the next person coming throught the door and trying to make his escape.

The fact that in such a short time Kurt had managed to get loose, maye even armed himself with a makeshif weapon said a lot though there was little hope of actually escaping though Anne guessed that seemed easier than dealing with Sabin.

But he did not pause but rather opened the door boldly looking at the young man as he came forward.

“Have a seat!” He gestured and just like that Kurt obeyed dropping a fork onto the floor. He made it look so easy as he flickered his gaze towrd Anne before proceeding into the darkened room.

I felt like headbutting the wall. Or punching Kurt. Actually, far more the later with how I felt. What a bloody IDIOT! I mean... I try to set up a deal to keep him alive, in his skin and undamaged. I tell him i'ld try my best. And he tries to fight his way out? After being captured so easilly?

Was he trying to get himself killed? I suppose I might have failed, but I would have wished he had trusted me to give him a chance!

I was fuming. I found i REALLY wanted to hit him! That and storm off and leave him to deal with this mess himself. I wanted too, but I didn't. Instead my glare must have rivalled that of Sabins as I walked in the darkened room.

It didn't seem too smart though Kurt seemed as if he wanteded to try something, perhaps not trusting or moe likely not wanting to barter with those that he had been convinced of killing his wife. Of course the truth was much worse and though Anne was glaring at him it was hard to read Sabin with that mask on though it seemed as if he had taken the incident in stride as if he expected it to some degree. He would have tried something himself in such a situation maybe … he of course had no idea of Anne's involvement here so he might have sat back initially, gauged how well that was going then acted.

“So, I am told you are a hunter.”

“That is correct.”

“Hm, rather rash and not a good one at that. Why have you come here? Answere honestly.”

“Ato kill you once and for all.”

Sabin nodded as if he expected that. He seized Anne by the shoulders moving her into better view. “And do you know her, remember, honesty is the best policy.”

“Yes, sir. She's my sister in law.”

Sabin looked at Anne then at Kurt as he processed something. “Your surname? Is it Van Helsing?”

“No, Gruber.”

“Of course, I didn't think you were skilled enough to be a Van Helsing … your wife … deceased wife … that was not her surname either correct?”

“That is sir.”

Sabin made this seem easy. While he ws dominating Kurt it did not seem as if the hunter could not resist. It was apparent that Sabin used a gaze to cloud his mind a bit hence why the eyes in the mask were revealed so he could use such a power.

His was hard to shrug off, she managed it but Kurt seemed not able to resist at all so her gifting must have been intense! Either that or Kurt was so weak will it wasn't even funny!

My glare continued, and while I perhaps should have felt a little pity at his rought treatment I really didn't. If the idiot tried a stunt like that, and got off with just this then I would consider him incredibly lucky.

It did demostrate just how lucky I was though. He answered the questions quickly, respectfully and completely under Sabins power. He really did make it look easy, and for a moment I was really grateful for my heritage that left me immune to such tricks! Without it...

I shook myself and continued to watch the interogation, my green eyes blazing in the gloom, ready to step in if needed but waiting for Sabin to learn what he needed.

He was fairly basic with questions, asking if there was anyone else, how Anne was involved in this whole mess and his objective. Those had been the big ones. Apparently the hunter was after the elusive Master, thought Sabin was it, used Anne as bait to track the vampires here and was going to wait until they slept after making a head count and figuring out what he had to deal with. He was caught during this, explained how Anne consumed a drug to make her forget so she could not reveal this and that she wanted to avenge herself.

Sabin chuckled at this little reveal but allowed him to explain a little more. He was still a tough read though he didn't seem to be bothered by any of this. He probably took a little delight in revealing that he was not the true Master here so killing him would probably insist that a worse vampire was created and given reign of this area.

But he wanted to kill the Master himself for his own reasons but couldn't kill his creator. He glanced to Anne then back at the hunter.

“I at least have a use for her … you, I'm not so sure of. You seem inept, how many vampires have you killed?”

“Six.”

“Six? That's six more than I would have thought … hm, perhaps you might be useful after all to some degree. Does Anne possess any wapon skills?”

“Not much, a little with knives ...”

“Hm, I might consider something. In fact, you may like it Anne ...”

I listened, quietly while my hands clenched into fists. I still fumed and still wanted to kick Kurt a few times for being a complete prat, but at least it seemed to be going ok.. Perhaps there was no damage done after all and he could salavage his skin.

That was, until Sabin seemed to have an idea.

“Hm, I might consider something. In fact, you may like it Anne ...”

I head the smile in his voice, and suddenly the last place I wanted to be was here, finding out what I might enjoy.

"Oh?" I said simply, trying my best to keep my sudden desire not to be in this room down, channelling that former anger into keeping myself calm.

“Yes, they say that amnesia doesn't erase your skills but surprises your knowledge of said abilities. I am considering a test of your skills to see if this is the case. I even considered Sig being your practice partner ...”

He held up a hand to silence her before she had a chane to protest. “You could be blind folded so as not to see him, in fact you both can be and he can be commaned to simple defend too. It's doubtful that he will be killed by an ordinary knife, a silver knife would hurt of course … death can be achieved though it is remote.

But just a possibility that I'm sure you're not interested in ...”