After witnessing this act of brutality, most of the boys began running back into the orphanage, but one charged Frieda as she struggled to pull the axe out of Gustav’s skull. He was met by Hans, who slammed Wendell’s knife deeply into the top of his head.

“Are you alright?” Hans couldn’t tell if any of the blood covering Frieda was hers.

“I am intact,” she replied as she looked at the remaining injured and unconscious boys left outside. The twins looked at one another and then spent the next several minutes dispatching the five boys that had been unable to make it back into the orphanage.

“Impressive,” Hulderich walked out of the shadows and approached the siblings. “I am quite impressed, and that is hard to do.”

“Who are you?” Hans handed Frieda the knife as he easily yanked the axe free from Gustav’s head. Hans walked unafraid towards the strange older man.

“My name is Hulderich von Straus, and I mean you no harm.”

“Then what do you want?” Frieda stepped to her brother’s side.

“I want to adopt you,” Hulderich smiled showing his fangs to the twins, “but only if you are willing to finish this night correctly.”

“What are you?” Hans placed his hand in front of Frieda and tried to move her behind him but she batted it away.

“He is a vampire my brother, I read legends about them, but I never imagined they truly existed.”

“A vampire, are you certain?”

“Yes Hans your sister is correct as to my nature.”

“Do you mean to make us like you?” Frieda began to smile; she wouldn’t need anyone to protect her anymore. She knew vampires were powerful, per the legends she had read.

“In time, if you meet out criteria, and pass our tests,” Hulderich boldly walked toward the pair.

“What if we say no?” Hans kept a close eye on Hulderich and his axe at the ready.

“Hans don’t be foolish,” Frieda looked up at him. “He is offering us freedom.”

“You can say no Hans,” Hulderich placed his hand on Hans’ shoulder, “but think of what will happen to you if you do. You are now both murderers, you will be locked away, never seeing each other again.” Hans lowered his axe and Frieda knew right away what her brother’s decision would be.

“What did you mean by finishing this night correctly?” Hans looked into the man’s eyes as he smiled back at him.

“No witnesses,” Hulderich pointed up at the girls still looking down at them.

“Yes, they will all be made to pay and my sister made to be safe,” Hans turned around and walked toward the locked door back into the orphanage and kicked it in. He marched in and was soon out of sight. Frieda clenched her knife and soon followed him in.

“Frieda,” Hulderich called out to her just as she entered into the building. She turned around and found him mere inches from the door, “May I come in and join in the fun?”

She smiled coyly back at him, knowing exactly what he was actually asking, “Yes Hulderich Von Strauss, I invite you in.”