The last sight of the human was of him dragging his broken body up the steps of the Vatican.

"Did you have to remove his entire memory?" Kuso remarked as the two vampires watched the sun set behind Rome.

"He's a human who has been alive for over two hundred years and doesn't know why. There are people in the Vatican who can help keep him unnoticed," Irvan bit out harshly. "And besides, he still has his name." As Kuso retained his accusing stare, Irvan added, "I didn't remove it. It's still there."

"That doesn't explain why you did it, Irvan. You never do anything without personal cause." The older and scared vampire let his arm drop heavily on the slighter one. "Where's your motivation?"

Irvan frowned. An all to common occurrence. "Personally I don't want him hunting us down in a decade or two. He knew too much about us and would come. Don't tell me you don't recognize the threat," the pale vampire warned.

"That's not it and you know it," Kuso grinned. Irvan was hiding something big and humiliating and Kuso knew exactly what it was. He just had to get Irvan to admit it. That was where the fun began.

"Fine. It involves a dress and you will do best by leaving it at that." Irvan shrugged the arm off roughly. Kuso frowned, his facial scars stretching horribly.

"Then it's a good thing I saved it. I figured he'd call you again for a second date," Kuso paused not seeing a reaction. "Or you called him. Either way I thought you would like a memento of your special night. Figuring you would just burn it without any thought."

"Where is the dress, Kuso?"

"Why? What do you want with it?"

"I'm going to burn it. The fewer who know about that the better. And I'll burn you with it if you keep going on about it."

"Oh, I get it. You don't want to give Van Helsing any ideas." Then he remembered the first thing Irvan had said. Van Helsing was over two hundred years old. "How do you suppose he got that way? We both know he's just human."

Irvan's frown was introspective as his eyes followed the outline of the Vatican. "Something powerful is keeping him here. Someone who doesn't want him to leave."

It didn't take a genius to follow Irvan's thoughts. "You don't mean..." Kuso's brow creased in thought. "Is it even possible?" he managed a snort of a laugh. For some reason he found it amusing that Dracula would want to keep anyone around.

"They share a history. A complicated one. And Dracula has the power. And apparently the desire. I don't understand it, but their memories are strong."

"Don't tell me you went fooling around in their memories. Do you have any idea what that would do to you?" Irvan wasn't even phased. Kuso rolled his eyes at Irvan's back. "I see how you got into Van Helsing's mind. But how the hell would you know what goes on inside Dracula's."

The whole sight of Irvan half turning and giving a small half smile scared Kuso. And nothing Irvan had ever done ever scared him. "Haven't you ever wondered what would happen when two vampires joined minds?" All Kuso could do was shake his head in the negative. He had never wondered and never wanted to wonder, and now Irvan was going to tell him. "We shared thoughts. I saw his memories. Shared his thoughts. While linked he could not hide anything from me."

Kuso swallowed. "And he took control of yours. Pleasant imagery, Irvan. I still can't see why you liked him. Why did you do it?"

Irvan now looked to the darkening sky with a thoughtful speculative frown. "I was curious. I wanted to know what was possible." There was a pregnant pause. "Though I wonder what would have occurred had I actually fought?"

"You what!" Kuso's eye's widened with shock. "You mean you just let him take control! You are more of an idiot than I thought. I take it you willingly ratted us out to him didn't you. Told him everything he needed to know. Which was why you both were there to meet us."

"Plans change, Kuso," Irvan said levelly. "I knew I wasn't going to be able to get you past him without him knowing. I improvised."

"So I suppose the next time you come up against him, you are going to try fighting him this time?"

"I pray to the Lord Almighty that that day never comes."

"Since when were you Catholic?"

"I was never Catholic. I was reading some of those Protestant texts. They have some interesting ideas."

"I thought you said you were going to get out of the human world."

"Why would I do that? They just made their lives more interesting. Come on, I need a drink."

Kuso grinned widely. "I do believe that is the first time you beat me to it. Let's go. I know of a great place in France. Heads are suppose to be rolling."