Talicia nods, "My family."

Reima "If they are your family, why did they attack you?" he asks, confused at this developing convoluted plot.

She looks reluctant to even discuss it but realises that Reima and Ciri are the only ones who're able to help them, "My family, the house of Alucard is a distant branch from the original Dracula line... Before we went into hiding and subsequently sealed away by Merlin, I was married to Ambrose to secure the purity of the Alucard bloodline... It seems that they had never considered that the Belmont's would completely disregard them and attempt to annihilate the house of Dracula. It's been a thousand years since I had seen any of them, without the offspring of Ambrose to improve their bloodline they'd likely currently be one of the weaker houses."

Reima "So they decide to find and a.s.sa.s.sinate you to clear a debt? To take you back?" he asks confused, he had heard the leader of the vampires shouting to "Bring her to me" but it doesn't seem important enough to sacrifice one hundred to achieve it.

Talicia shakes her head, "No. They wouldn't use resources for petty things like that, you see for us vampires, strength is everything. The value of a house is only determined by the strength and purity of their bloodline, if they lose that then they are considered inferior to others and may even be disbanded and or outcast."

Reima "Yes, but if they weren't looking for you then that'd mean they wanted..." he looks to Nerissa. "You?"

Talicia grips Nerissa's hand tightly "You wizards aren't the only ones with prophets, after Merlin transcribed a pa.s.sage into the Wardstone we pondered over it's significance for a long while... It was only after I fell pregnant that I realised what part of it meant. I know what the Alucard's are after and I'll give my life trying to prevent it."

Ciri "If you have information then it would be prudent to tell us." she says while leaning against the opposite wall.

Talicia "No, I cannot. Will not." she states sternly.

Nerissa tugs on her mothers hand, causing her to turn back. "Mother, if this affects us then I, we need to know... Can you be truthful to me for once?" she says quietly while trying the "Puppy eye" technique which seems strange to witness from a vampire...

Talicia's face softens briefly before hardening into a scowl, "I'm sorry, but I cannot give away this information. It doesn't only concern the Alucard and if it got out we'd be hunted even more so than we are now." When Nerissa hears this she takes her hand away from Talicia, transforms into her bunny form and hops on Reima's lap.

Reima "Fine, don't tell us... Let's move on shall we?" he says trying to change the subject. "We should talk about where we're heading before the sun sets so we can use as much time as we need." he says while ma.s.saging the head of the bunny in his lap.

Ciri nods and Talicia slowly regains her composure from the semi-interrogation earlier. "The safehouse we've owned for centuries should still be standing on the outskirts of London..."

Reima "Wait, if the Manor where you lived is in Scotland, how did you manage to keep property all the way in London?"

Talicia "Ambrose wasn't just a "Vampire", he was a Dracula."

Ciri "As is Nerissa, we still however have no idea what that means."

Reima "Nerissa told us she was only able to shape s.h.i.+ft, Ambrose seemed to have controlled blood during the fight in the Cellar... Does this have something to do with the Dracula bloodline?" he questions her as the bunny in his lap perks up.

Talicia "Again, it's none of your business. But yes, Ambrose would travel to London as an eagle, while there he would collect blood and manage our affairs once a month."

Ciri looks at her confused, "Collects blood? So you do hunt people?"

Reima shakes his head, "I think she means from a blood bank, although I stand to be corrected." he says as he gives a pointed look to the vampire.

Talicia "No, you're correct. The non-magical humans have devised a way that allows our kind to live peacefully... In the past we would have to occasionally hunt due to having no other option available, but it's different now, or was."

Reima "What do you mean?"

Talicia "While most vampires seem to be taking advantage of the humans technological innovation, the n.o.ble houses seem to be stuck in tradition. This dictates that they are to kidnap healthy virgin humans and enslave them as "blood storage", in the past this was needed to keep a large house fed but it's wholly unnecessary now days."

Ciri questions "Why virgins?"

Talicia frowns, "Have you ever tasted someone with HIV? No? Well it's disgusting and can make weaker individuals incredibly sick. Most blood borne diseases don't effect us but for some reason s.e.xually transmitted ones are our bane."

Reima jokes, "So if I want to avoid a vampire attack I just need to get HIV?"

Talicia "No. The houses value pure blood and seek to maintain that in their "Livestock", this means that most would kill any infected they come across."

After getting metaphorically slapped down he dips his head, "How morbid."

Talicia sighs, "I suppose the only good news is that my family only deigned to send my competent brother and seven lackeys after us."

Reima coughs, "Err, no. I think there was around a hundred when we started..." this receives a shocked "What!" from Talicia and Ciri.