I was in the forest once more.  That lush, green beautiful forest. 

And from deep within, I heard it again.  The wail of an infant. The infant that had been me.  I followed the sound.  As I seemed to be nearing it, Kula materialised in front of me.

I pushed her aside and continued searching for my younger self, but she was persistant.  "Stay out of my dreams Kula!!" I warned her.

   "You must listen to me, little sista."

   "No!" I kept pushing forward through the undergrowth.

   "Why you angry wit' me?

I stopped and spun round to face her. "Why?!" I screamed at her.  "You betrayed me! Work it out!"

   "I have not'ing of the kind, Sienna!  I warned you remember?  Vittorio is the one to fear."

   "Fear?  Are you kidding me?  After all he has told me?"

   "Exactly.  It is because of what he has told you."

   "Concern yourself about your husband, Kula.  Damned strange how you so quickly dismissed the man you profess to love.  My best friend, too."

   "Peter is my life, Sienna! He is safe, I swear it."

   "Leave me alone!"

Her eyes widened sharply, and she glanced quickly  from side to side.  "I will go, for now.  Remember what I said..."  Suddenly, she was gone. The wailing infant was quiet, too.  I turned  360 degrees, desperately willing the child to cry again.  Nothing.  Then something moved, just at the corner of my eye.  I stared.  "Peter?"  Two figures, one of which, I was sure was Peter, disappeared into the brush at the north end of the forest.  I ran to try catch them, but tripped over roots, sending me sprawling through the air.....

I woke with a jolt and sat up.  No Kula! Had my subconscious just conjured her up? Or had she somehow sped from the room before I regained conciousness?  Whichever it was, I was annoyed.

I showered and dressed, ready for whatever this day presented me with.  I opened my door, stepped into the hall.  No Ugly!  Downstairs, no Vittorio.  Thankfully, no Ian neither.  Sounds from the kitchen however, let me know there was one person at least present, and I had a good idea who it was. 

She had the breakfast table set with one place.  She turned towards me, a plate of scrambled eggs and bacon in her hands.  She studied me for a second.  "Sit," Kula said.  " You must eat."

   "No thanks. I don't trust your ingredients anymore."

Baby Si nodded in agreement.

   "You are being silly.  De tea just had a mild sedative to help you relax, not'ing more."

   "It was still a violation."

She put the plate on the table.  "Perhaps."  She waited for me to take my place.  When it was obvious that I wasn't going accept her offer, she sat down and started to eat the breakfast herself.  Damn, I thought.  She wasn't going to drug herself now, was she!

I snatched a piece of toast from the rack and spread it with butter and marmalade.  "Where are the others?"

   "Well, Vittorio is resting, and Ian is at work."

   "And the ghoul?"

She chuckled.  "He is around.... somewhere."

   "Well, I don't want him scaring the neighbours."  Somehow, I couldn't help but chuckle a little myself.  I gathered that Vittorio's rest actually meant his intolerance to sunlight.  I also just knew, he was still in the house, cellar most likely.  "So, Kula.  How long have you known about my.....origins?"

Her look was wary.  She pressed a finger to her lips, as if  to silence me.  This was intriguing.  "Why won't you answer me?"

She looked both frustrated and agitated.  What was going on here?  "Eat your toast," she said.  "We have shopping to do.  We need more food."

   "What!"

She put her plate in the sink and grabbed my car keys.  As she passed close to me, handing the keys over,  she mouthed the word "Now!"

As we pulled out of the driveway and headed north towards the next town, she finally  started talking.  "We don't have long, Sienna."

   "Long 'til what."

   "Until he wakes.  Vittorio. We must act fast."   Somehow I knew she didn't mean the shopping.   There was much more to this than I had cottoned on to.

   "I don't understand what's going on here!"

  "You weren't meant to!  It was for your safety."

  "Whoa!!!"  I slammed on the brakes.  Thankfully, there were no cars behind.  I pulled off-road. "Wait a minute!!!  You are talking about my safety!? You have scared me with ghost stories, which have turned out to be real; drugged me; allowed that gold-digging solicitor-come-familiar Carter into my house, and have given me up like a lamb to the slaughter to a vampire!  Who, coincidentaly, doesn't appear to be particularly dangerous to me, as such."

   "Appearances can be deceptive, Sienna."

   "No shit, Sherlock!!"

   "I have told you before, don't use dat tone to me!"

   "Give me one damned good reason why I should be nice to you at all!!"

She looked straight ahead, her chin held proud and defiant.  "Then I shall.  Drive where I tell you."

 We drove for about another 20 miles taking various country roads.  I knew where they would all eventually lead, but as I didn't know our final destination, I had no idea exactly where we were going.  As it was, we took a dirt road track which meandered a mile or so into the middle of nowhere.  I cut the engine as we approched an old deserted house, which Kula informed me was our stop.  I looked askance at her and cautiously followed her out to the front of the house.

   I don't like this! squeaked Baby Si.  Neither did I, but I had no alternative but to continue.

The door creaked loudly as it's rusty hinges protested against  the force of her opening it.  Dust particles swirled and danced it our wake as we moved through the dark interior.  Windows had either been shuttered or bricked up, so light was in short supply.  Off to the right, I saw a sliver of gold emanating from under a doorway.  This was where she headed.

An old dilapidated fireplace was lit, giving the only light available in the room.  I squealed with delight as I saw Peter standing near.  He met my embrace with one of his bear-hugs.  "You made it!" he said.  He stepped back and smiled.   Then his eyes moved past me towards the door.  On seeing his wife, he crossed the room rapidly and swung her round in in his arms.  They kissed and held each other for many moments.  I was utterly dumb-founded.  What, exactly was going on?  As if they had heard my thoughts they turned their attention back to me.

   "Sorry, Sienna," Peter began.  "It has all been a bit....tense, shall I say."

   "And....confusing!" I countered.

   "I'm sure, yes."  He ran his fingers through his tousled hair.

   "We do not have much time, Peter," Kula said urgently.  They looked at each other, an unspoken understanding passed between them.  A grunt sounded  from behind me.  I turned.  Looming out of the dark corner, was a shape.  A huge shape!  It was Ugly, the ghoul.

I stumbled back and quickly glanced at Peter and Kula.  "It's alright, Sienna.  Do not fear him," Kula said.

Well, I hadn't until she told me not to.  Holy crap! Baby Si screamed.  His form was altering, fazing in and out, morphing into someone or something else.  "What....?"  I was horrified!  Peter came and stood beside me, putting his arm round my shoulders.  My eyes were transfixed to the one-moment gelatinous, then opaque, then gelatinous, mass in front of me.  Finally, the activity slowed and arrived at its final transformation. 

A rather regal and refined looking gentleman stood before me.  Though he was close to six foot in height, he was still considerably smaller than Ugly had been, so the attire was somewhat baggy and dishevelled on his physique.  He startled me as he held out a hand to greet me.

   "Finally,"  he said in a deep, warm and kindly voice. "I am Dante. And you, sweet Sienna, are my daughter."

Baby Si dropped like a stone.