Vlad was right as always. Kill hunters and there will be more. Kill demons and there will be more.

When she heard about that "word of God" thing, she was terribly furious to learn that the blood of the first mutant was needed. Of the first mutant. What an insult. Of course, the first vampire died thousands of years ago but still. It meant he was useful, it meant they couldn't kill him. She was even a little grateful to Dick Roman to have found a poison that could kill them. The problem was, it could also kill her. The moment she learnt about the food poisoning she had to surpass her aversion of the phone, and call every vampire she knew to warn them. After that she fed on animal blood for three whole weeks. She had never felt so week in her life. Constant headaches, fever, low heartbeat. Because of that she couldn't help the boys, she was simply not able. Even hunting a stupid deer was difficult. A deer!

Now the boys had managed to kill the Leviathans, only to make the demons stronger, as it appeared. And as the Leviathans were gone, so were Castiel, Dean, Bobby and Meg.

That was a shame, she liked Meg. Well, liked, as much as a vampire can like a demon, meaning not feeling the need to kill it right away. Meg had a nice sense of humor. She also liked Castiel, actually not as much as Margaret who found in him someone to talk to, as he seemed to be just as lunatic, since he took Sam's visions away. And Bobby, well…he had never liked her but the boys loved him just like a father. They even had to take him out of his misery, again, after he became a ghost. How fate can be so cruel sometimes…And she couldn't do anything, apart staying at home with Philip killing rabbits. She had never felt so useless. What a lame ally...

Now she was feeling a little better, starting to feed normally again. And upstairs was Sam, curled up in his bed, in shock. When he called her, he was half crying, half laughing, sounding like someone who was losing his mind. And she knew what it felt like. He said Dean and Castiel had disappeared just after killing Dick Roman. She told him people can't vanish in thin air just like that, but that's what happened. She told him to drive straight to her house, she almost said home. When he arrived, he was a wreck. Extremely tired, clinging on her like he couldn't walk by himself. She put him to bed, gently stroking his hair, compelling him to sleep for the next 24 hours. She needed time to think.

Vlad had just arrived when Sam came. He was carrying his own stock of bloodbags, a "fresh harvest from Bulgaria" where he had pretended to be a humanitarian worker. They could finally eat normally and Philip took back his lively red cheeks. He left the house to go sailing and breathe some fresh air; she was happy to see him look cheerful again.

When she warned Vlad she had a guest, she prepared herself mentally for the storm to come. She saw the tall ice-blond man climbing up the stairs, feeling her heart pound in her chest. He remained in the room a few minutes, maybe a little too much. When he appeared in the staircase, his face had lost all its colors. He walked to her like an automat, sit heavily on the couch and said:

-You thought I would not notice?

-…

-How? How could you Elsa? What were you thinking?

-It's not what you think…

-Oh really? And what do I think then? That you just bought a human pet?

-He needed help Vlad...His brother died, he has no one...

-He's a hunter Elsa! a hunter! And a Winchester!

-He's not dangerous. And it's been decades since you last called me Elsa.

-What do you think he's going to be when he knows you used to be the greatest hunter killer of the 19th? Using hunters is a thing, being friend with them is another.

-You don't understand. He and his brother they...

-Elsa…you make yourself suffer, why? Dearest, your children are dead, just like mine. Taking care of those two won't make them come back.

He guessed…Daphne began to weep, and then cry. She needed to talk to someone about this. Chance made the Winchester's cause hers, but Vlad was right, she would have helped them for any other. Something in them made a part of her humanity resurface, those four littles years when she had been the mother of two boys. Dean was just like her elder, always protective, and she started to like him. The boys were the synthesis of her great losses, of her two greatest joys and greatest pain.

-Don't cry, my sweet child. I understand…When i was turned i lost my children, i had to see them age and die, be in pain, be sad...I tried to forget them but there is always a time when the memories come back, and these can kill you. Send him back home.

-I cannot…He has no home…He lost his only family and…

-This is not your responsibility.

-I thought…I thought it was over…I thought I had healed. But it is not the kind of injury that heals, I know that now. I miss them just like I did when they were dead for only a day. And I do not know…I do not know…how to sooth that pain…

-Keeping the human certainly will not help!

-I don't know Vlad…I…taking care of him, in some way, makes me feel better…

-Well then, will you tell him?

-No. That sounds cheesy. And weird.

-He will leave you one day, you know that. He will leave, or he will grow old and die.

-I know.

-And he is a hunter, he will not let you turn him.

-I know.

-So what are you going to do Elsa?

-I don't know. I can...help him find his brother...

-Goodness...

-They deserve...a little happiness...

-They. Are. Hunters. They will not stop. If you bring back the brother, they will start to hunt the demon Lord. And then another creature, and then another one, and then maybe us. He is the only one who know who we are. Let us keep it that way. Wisdom would advise us to get rid of him but...

-You can't, can you?

Vlad's eyes became blurry. He took his head in his hands and sighed.

-No, i wouldn't do that to you. Not to my grand daughter, i love you way to much, little laurel.

What am I going to do now?

To be continued!