[If Helena had fashioned her mind into a house of sorts, Vlad's could be described as a fortress. The mental strain was exhausting, and he had to deal with constant interference from Dracula, who viewed his attempts with disdain. The vampire had no reason to hide anything, but somehow he'd managed to build and maintain walls strong enough to keep what he wanted hidden in and Helena out. Still, there were times when it was weak, and it was a constant struggle to maintain it.
He let his defenses weaken, allowed the doors to open for him to cross the line separating his mind from hers. He met resistance and tried to push forward, but whatever it was pushed right back.]