Castlevania: Darkness Never Dies

Fan Fiction

Continued...

Part 1: Gathering darkness.

""Come with me." Jesus then said. "I shall make you into fishers of men." Then they rouse and followed him."

Mathew: 4:12-23

Chapter 25. Reincarnated Soul.
Lonely hills of poltergeist, Warakiya. The 18th of December 2098 A.D.
Edward stood at the brink of the bridge leading across the little river running over the canion. The manor consisted of two wings, bought connected with a single solid tower from the 16th century. The one he faced was in two floors, while the second wing consisted of three floors with an atic with large windows of the 19th century could be seen at the ceiling. Multiple chimneys rouse from the ceiling, spreading eerie blue and green smoke into the dark night air. Torah had had to be inside there somewhere. He took a deep breath and then did the sign of the cross. "I know what you might think." Saria said as she put an arrow to her bow. "We have to save her," She said. "we have to save my sister." He nodded as he again began walking. This felt like what Simon Belmont had told in his chronicle, telling about when he entered the demon castle.

Paragraph from Simon Belmont's chronicle.

Castlevania, Warakiya. The 24th of October 1688 A.D.
I felt how the rocks gave wake under my very feet. "Jump!" Christina looked at me with wide eyes as she used her magic to freeze the platform. It wouldn't last for long. I jumped right over and landed right before the fence cracked down behind us. I looked up the high walls and towers of the dark lord's castle. "God be with us." She repeated it over and over. I did the sign of the cross. It was like a dark shroud had lay its claws upon my hearth. "Come on." I said as I tried to focus my mind to God. "Let it be." She said.

End of paragraph.

He shook his head, trying to get a hold on himself. Saria was right. He forced away the images of what those bastards might did with the little child just now. A slowly downward-going slope boxed in the building from his left, with rows of trees going along it. The stables laying there most likely housed the quarters of the house's guards as well as the horses. He shook his head. From the windows of the worn-down building's second floor, he could see the faces of bone-soldiers and lizard-men. The fact they didn't attacked him only made him more sure this was a trap. They disappeared as he made the sign of the cross. Somehow that didn't made him feel any better. As they went past the fountain at the centre of the little park between those two wings, the doors silently cracked open. Again he did the sign of the cross. Then he recoiled the whip as he prepared a few nasty surprises of himself as he went up the few steps leading up to the little balcony who, on this wing, went the entire length of the house. "Blue bow!" Saria's attack made the ghost who had come drifting to the wall turn into frozen pieces. Then all became silent again. "It was a test." He said as he neared the door. Saria nodded. Then they silently walked inside. The doors went shut behind them just as silent they had opened.

Rover manor, Warakiya. The 18th of December 2098 A.D.
As he took the first few steps inside, the fire roared up inside the large fireplace at the end of the wing. "There is wood in there." He pointed. "But it don't burn." Saria silently said. Edward nodded. He couldn't help as a slight shudder went through him. "This place… " She silently began. "I know." He assured her. He could also feel it. The house was nice and looked confortable, but just as well he felt a strange feeling of hatred. Like if the house itself hated them and wanted nothing more than to see them all dead. "They say a piece of the dark lord once was stored in this manor." He commented as he went slowly away from the fire-place. "I think that is why it has risen out of the rubble together with the demon castle." Outside of the wind and the sounds of the fire and the Rococo clock on the mantle atop the fire-place. "Who is that?" Saria suddenly said as she pointed at the portrait atop the mantle. The silent light of the two three-armed candelabras upon the self shone upon the portrait of an armoured elderly man with a sword and a dragon banner in his hand. "Let's see." He went closer to read the script upon the ivory wood embrazing the picture. "Vladimir I Basraq." He said as he read the golden Gothic text. "Dracula's grandfather." Saria shook her head. He shook his head. "This is no place for the dark lord." He slowly said. Then a look of glee went across his face. "It isn't nearly as sceary enough for him. No. Old Drac isn't here. But I think his niece is. If I remember correctly, Elizabeth, one of the vampires I was telling you mer about, was Vlad I'st granddaughter." Saria looked like she was thinking about something else. "If countess Elizabeth is here somewhere, when where do you think… " She was cut short as something hard collided with his head.

Rover manor, Warakiya. The 18th of December 2098 A.D.
Saria screamed as Edward collapsed on the floor as the armour behind him stepped forward with its armoured gloves shaped into fists. "All who oppose the Dark Lord must die." A metallic inhuman voice came from the opening of its helmet as it grasped behind it to bring forth its trident. "Not if I can do anything about it." She said as she song a few notes of the Sonnet of the winter, then she gave it a blue arrow to finish it off. The trident guard shattered into pieces as she knelt to inspect on Edward. "Covard backshooter." Edward mumbled as he got to his feet. "This must be the servant's quarter of the place. No bad said against servants. But if it'd bean a boyar ghost possessing the armour, it would've attacked me head on. Not tried to knock me down from the behind." She shrugged. "I don't know about such things. But if you're right, we should try to get over to where the landlord's quarters are." He nodded as they began walking. It was then they heard that strange cracking sound. Then the floor gave wake and they tumbled into the basement.

Countess Elizabeth turned into her human shape as the two vampire hunter vanished into the abyss. It had bean a trick her uncle had learned her. She laughed as she thought about the Belmont's remark about servants. He had bean wrong since it was she who had possessed the suit of armour. Not that she did not have other servants. But she had whised to be the one to knock the first strike. She would await them at the top of the old tower. She had no doubt they would sooner or later come to her. Then a thought lingered at her memories. This was the servant's quarter, sure, and she had sent them down into the rooms who would lead them to the kitchen. She again smiled, then she teleported away.

Rover manor, Warakiya. The 18th of December 2098 A.D. He slowly opened his eyes. The second knock had really sent him to the realm of dreams. He groaned as he sat up. A sound of moving made him look at the other side of the chamber. He thanked God in his hearth when he noticed it was merely Saria who got to her feet. "This is really strange yoy know." She said as she leant againt something big at the wall. He opened his mouth to ask her what she meant, then he noticed it. Laudery-machines in a manor from the 19th century? He shook his head, but the things didn't went away. "Well," He dryly commented as he got to his feet. "the dark spirits would like some help around the house." They smiled at each other, he squeezed her breasts as she stroke his manhood. Then he went toward the door. He knocked down the candles and picked up the crystals who fell out of them. Then he opened the door and did a back-flip. A group of bone-soldier came right at him. The one in the front slashed right at where his chest had bean a mere second ago. He combined the mercury card with the thunderbird's and made electricity flash around the whip. The bone-bags blast into oblivion before the card-effect worn off. But There came more. He summoned the mercury/thunderbird combo again and again, then it was all over. Gasping for breath He leant heavily against the wall. Saria was picking up undamaged arrows, looking just as tired as he felt. "I hoped that was all of them." He mumbled as he went to inspect the next room. "God in Heaven!" He exclaimed as he saw all the food stored in there. Piles of vegetables, potatoes, onion, pees, carrots and pepper-fruits was everywhere. Barrels filled with apples, oranges and all types of liqid wares occupied large portions of the floor as the meat of sheep, lamb and bull, beside whole chickens, ducks and turkeys. And even dough the vampires didn't ate, it was all fresh and ready to be served. "Don't eat anything." Saria warned. He shook his head. He wouldn't touched it if he was dying of hunger. He went toward another door and they came into a room filled with shelves who in turn was filled with bottles. "Good evening young master." The thired voice of a creature old as time itself nearly made him jump. A creature, shaped of that of a man, dressed in a black hood and cloak, came linking toward him. Leaning toward a gloated black cane, its meagre face with black eyes stared at him from underneath the hood as the skeletal being slowly beant forward. "Who are you?" He asked as he stepped backward. "Merely old Harethlin, young master, the keeper of the wine-murchant's cellar. The usual I suspect?" The old dark elf brought out a bottle from the shelf and filled a glass he took from the table. "What is this?" He asked as he took a sip. It was a rather sour liquid, clear like water, but with a golden hint to it. "It is white-wine," The old one said. "from Iran, young master." He felt how a warm glow spread through him. He lifted the glass to take another sip. Then his better sence kicked in. The wine went to his head quicker than anything he'd ever tasted. Then something else hit him. He looked down, a bottle had shot from the shelves and had hit his shoulder. Then another bottle came flying at him. He cracked the whip and shattered it, but there came more. "What's wrong Edward?" Saria put a hand on his shoulder. He looked around, all the bottles stood on the shelves, whole and unbroken. He shook his head. His energy had returned to him and he felt refreshed and prepared. "Thank you old man," He slowly recoiled the whip. "but I think I should leave the rest to you." The dark elf nodded, and then he was just gone. "I don't like those creatures." Saria said. He nodded, then he went to the second door. "I just hope he doesn't try something fishy." He opened the door. TTheyy came into a new cave, this time a far smaller than any of the others. A steps lead up to the floors above the ground. "Most likely it's the kitchen I think." He absentmindedly said. "Stay here." He said as he went toward them. "Don't try telling me what to do." She said as she prepared her bow and arrows. "Sorry." He honestly said. "I'm just worried. That's all." She smiled reassuringly. "I know." He did the sign of the cross. In his mind he prepared the Diana and the Apollo cards. As he opened the lader at the top and the sounds of a busy kitchen drifted down to them. "Watch your head." He said as he gathered energy and then did a double-jump right up into the kitchen. Then he just gasped.

Rover manor, Warakiya. The 18th of December 2098 A.D.
Saria let go of her arrow and smiled with sudden joy. It had bean such a long time since they last saw living human beings that she just smiled when she noticed the kitchen was served by humans. Edward mumbled something she couldn't quite hear, and put his whip back upon his belt. "Who are you?" She and one of the kooks asked at the same time. Edward gave a short laugh, then shook his head. "I'm Edward Morris." He then said. This is Saria." He said before she could open her mouth. She gave him a worning look, making him smile knowingly. "In the name of God and Jesus," He then suddenly said as he brought out his whip and Bowie. "I'm a hair to the house of Belmont." She was quick to bring out her sword and shield, half-expecting them to turn into rotting zombies. "Than the Lord." The kook who'd asked them who they where knelt on the ground. "Is it true?" An old lady asked. She now noticed they where all old or deformed in one way or another. "What do you feel about me?" Edward said as he helped them to stand. "It is true." Another old man said as quiet tears began to run down his cheeks. "Why are you here?" Another woman asked. "Have you come to free us?" She nodded, then began to sing. Her power was not as great as Torah's, but she hoped it would give them some support. To her surprise, it was like they all felt refreshed and she saw a glimmer of hope in more than one face. "I promise to do what God give me power to." Edward said in a reassuring tone. "But might you tell us what is going on in this place?" The kook who'd first spoken, nodded. "I think I might do so." He began. "My name is Samuel Kruger. I am, or was, the mayor of Oldhill village. Our sons worked at the power-plant or at the train-company's service-crew. Even after the ice came we managed to uphold our train-line and the power-plant. But then, 18 months ago the witches came. They forced those who lived in Oldhill to move away. To either live in the village of Ondol or in the power-plant or wherever they forced us to go. I and my former village-parlament, and our families, was forced to come here and work as servants. Now it is only us old or deformed left. The monster living her appear now and then, taking away our young ones. Our sons and daughters." He shook his head. Then Edward spoke. "I don't know about the others, but the crew at the power-plant should be free. At least I think so." Saria couldn't help but smile. It had bean pretty chaotic about when they left the place. But the worker they'd freed had promised to get the plant up and running as soon they'd cleaned it of all dark servants. They hadn't managed that, but after what she'd seen, the dark army had withdrawn on their own accord. "The train we was on is still crawling with enemies dough." Edward continued. "and the forest isn't that much safer." Samuel nodded. "That I could understand." Then the old lady spoke. "If you only could put an end to the curse who have twisted the land. This hills where once a part of the forest." Now the smile vanished from her face. She'd known that Dracula had attacked the forests, but she had no idea it had gone this long. "We shall end the curse." Edward said in a grim voice. "That I can asure you of." With thanks and gratituedes upon their faces, the humans wished them success in their attempt. "Nice people." Edward said as they left the kitchen. "I pray to Jesus we'll don't let them down." She smiled as she rouse upon her toes to kiss him. "Thank's Edward." She just said. "How so?" He asked as he again brought out his whip. "That you care for the forest." He shook his head as he snaped the whip at some bats who flew at them. "The Warakyians deserve our help in any way we might give them. And I count you and the dryads among them." She slightly giggled. She couldn't help him. He was so caring. She then fired a set of arrows as another ghost came drifting through the wall just behind him. Then he opened the doors at the far end of the corridor.

Rover manor, Warakiya. The 18th of December 2098 A.D.
Edward cursed. He just couldn't help it. They where back in the same hall where they first entered the house. "I'm sorry Edward." Saria said as she put a comforting hand on his shoulder. "It isn't your fault." He said, getting a hold on himself. "Now we at least know what's downstair and what's in this floor." He looked at the stairs leading up to the first floor. "How many floors do you think there is in here?" He said as he walked toward the stairs. "In this wing," Saria said thoughtfully. "I think there is just the ground floor and the first floor. Pluss the atic of course. The tower have at least four and the other wing have three." He stopped his track to pounder the case. "Then this must be the servant's wing. I don't think Elizabeth will await us here." "Have you seen any path leading into the tower from here?" Saria asked somewhat dryly. "No." The corridor they'd just traversed ended only in the kitchen and the other corridor leaded just to the other end of the manor. "I have a bad feelings about this." He confessed. "If all paths leading onward is closed," Saria slowly began. "we have only one choice." He nodded. He was not looking forward to this, but Saria was right. They had no other choice. "We'll have to climb up on the roof-top and then climb the other wing." They gave eachother the same uncomfortable look, then he took a deep breath as he did the sign of the cross. "Be what may be." Saria merely said in the same calm tone he'd used. "Let's go." He said as he began climbing the stairs. She prepared her bow and arrows, then she joined up behind him. Just then a new swarm of bats came flying at them and for a moment he could forget about climbing slippery roofs. He combined the Mercury and Serpent cards and made the bats he snaped at turn to frozen pieces. He then recombined the Serpent with the Diana card to make frozen projectiles fly about to take out the rest. "Star bow!" Saria fired a set of arrows at some bone-knights awaiting at the top of the stair. They tried to block with their shields, but before he came up to fight them, only half the group was left to fight him. He used the Apollon card in combination with the Salamander card and the world seemed like it exploded.

Rover manor, Warakiya. The 18th of December 2098 A.D.
Saria moaned slightly as she sat up. Edward's last attack had knocked her all down the stairs. Edward himself lay shaking his head a few feet away. "I must apologize." He said as he put his hat back on his head. "Magic is a dangerous thing indeed." She merely said. She picked up her bow and arrows, a little worried they might have become damaged. Luckily they where unharmed but she saw to change string just to be sure. Edward had also managed to rise and was dusting of himself. "Shall we continue then?" She said. She noticed his cheeks where slightly redder, and couldn't help but give of a slight giggle. He cleared his troat and they again began to climb the stairs. This time they wasn't attacked dough and they soon stood at the main corridor at the first floor. "Where do you think the way to the atic?" Edward asked as he continued to look around. She opened her mouth to speak but became cut short as a group of ghosts came drifting right through the wall. Edward's whip snaped at them with the same speed she drew the string back to her ear and fired an arrow at the nearest ghost. A strange silvery light shone around the whip and the ghost vanished. "What was that?" She asked with amazement. "I used the Mercury cand in combination with the Unicorn card." He asked as he brought out a pack from his pocket, showing her the different sets of magical cards. She could feel their power, but could somehow feel that they needed a certain type of blood to awaken their true power. "The blood of the vampire hunter really have its quality of holy power." She said as she gave them back. "Really?" He said with a little glee. She smiled and then continued onward. "I think there should be a new stair here somewhere." She said as she went toward the end of the corridor. Then she nearly cursed herself. The corridor ended in the same type of brick-wall as they'd seen downstairs. There was only one of those statues here. "Glory be to the Father, The Son and to The Holy Ghost." Edward mumbled as he knelt before the statue and did the sign of the cross. The statue emited a soft silvery glow, the same glow she'd seen shine around his whip, and she felt refreshed in a way she hadn't felt in a really long time. "Amen." She said in unison with Edward as he rouse. "Let's try the other end of the house." He then suggested as he began walking. She didn't answer, merely joined up beside him as they went back to the steps. The other corridor looked just like the one they'd already followed. With wooden doors to either side and with molding portraits and dark candle-stands along the wall. They came to the far end of the corridor without being attacked, but she'd begun to feel like something was wrong. "Do you smell that?" Edward suddenly said, bringing an end to her line of thoughts. She sniffed, and brought her sword and shield to the ready. The sweet scent of expensive perfumes was no smell that made her feel confortable. Edward dashed around the corner just as a hoard of spiders came from the smaller corridor. She screamed just as Edward made two rebounding fireballs jump about, taking out the spiders. She let him to take out the two next onslaught of spiders as she dashed around the corner. A female dark elf, dressed in a costume who looked like the web of spiders, continued dancing. She shut her eyes and sent her blade right through the hearth of the elf. "Watch out!" Edward's warning made her open her eyes as another horde of spiders came right at her. Two more dark elves came walking across the corpse of the first one as they continued their strange dance who made spiders come at her. "Be careful." She warned as she attacked the second spider-priestess. "They worship the ancient spirit of Acrya. They are not to be taken lightly." She remembered the horror-stories the younger dryads used to tell each other as they sat around their trees at night. The tales about the dark creatures of the forest. The dark elf's religion was one of such kind. Acrya was a spirit from another time who should have bean dead long ago. But somehow had managed to stay alive as arias went by she had remained powerful. She blinked her eyes. The last two priestesses where dead and again the corridor was free of enemies. The light of the moon shone through the high windows at the right of them and made her see the corridor through. "There is a spiral stair-case at the end of the corridor." She told him. Edward nodded and again they began walking.

Rover manor, Warakiya. The 18th of December 2098 A.D.
The attic, Edward thought, was so far the most gloomy place they'd encountered in this house of horrors. With cobwebs at every corner it looked like, and with old boxes, dusty furniture and God knows what else. "I have a bad feeling about this." Saria said in a quiet voice. She slightly blushed when he looked at her. "Don't blame me for feeling what I do." She said almost defensively. He grabed her swety little hand and softly squeezed it. "I don't blame you for anything." He confessed. "I feel the same way." He brought out his whip and prepared the Jupiter and Cocatrice cards. Saria prepared her bow and arrows and he noticed that blue and yellowish energy became lit around the arrow-heads. "We must go in our separate way." He spoke his mind as he looked up at the shadows shrouding the roof-top. Saria nodded and then summoned Adrian's fairy-familiar. "What do you command, young mistress?" The tiny creature asked. "I want you to light my path." He heard her speak as she went back toward the tower construction. He then used the power of Saturn and Griffon cards, making his own type of sprite becoming summoned. "Don't fire." He said as he noticed she was already preparing her set of lances who was flouting around her. "You are not Nathan." She calmly observed as she flouted closer. "I'm Edward Morris." He said. "I'm a descendant of Morris Baldwin." He quickly continued as she rouse an eye-brow. "I know I don't have the blood to properly inherit the DSS cards, but John Kishine gave them to me." She still acted a little suspicious so he added. "He's a descendant of Nathan Graves. He just don't use the Graves name anymore." The sprite then nodded. "You speak what you think is true. I feel the blood of the Belmont clan in you. What is thy wish?" She then said in a formal tone. "Light my path so that I might find the way to the roof." He asked. She nodded and then began to shine with an even brighter light. That she shouldn't done. Something with the head of an elephant and the body of a voluptuous woman, dressed in the cloth of an Arabian belly-dancer. It, whatever the creature might be, was dressed like an Indian vail-dancer. He felt how his cheeks redden as he tore his eyes off of her luxorious bossom. "My I strike now, "master"?" The sprite asked with more than a little sarcasm in her voice. Before he could answer however, the elephant-creature rouse its palms and an arch of flames and a blurry of ice became shot directly toward him. Before he knew what he was doing, he brought out and combined the Apollo and Black Gog cards. A large black hole opened right before him and then the enemy just vanished. Then the hole went the same way and he absentmindedly noticed that the sprite also had vanished. He tiredly scratched his eyes and then again used the Saturn and Griffon cards to summon the sprite. This time she merely waited until he again asked her to lit his path before she again flew before him to do his wish. He continued onward as he looked up at the ceiling in hope of finding the opening. "Watch out!" The sprite's warning came just in time as another elephant-creature made ice and fire wave toward him. He summoned the power of the Diana and Thunderbird cards as he slashed the chain-whip at it as he tossed vials of holy water directly at it. The elephant staggered backward, then it again made flame and frost wave at you. He summoned the power of the Pluto and Salamander cards as he tossed more holy water at it. The card powers made a downpour of holy water. "Time to finish this. Thorn lance!" He'd almost forgot of the sprite. But now she hurled lance after lance directly at the elephant-creature. "Thank you." He offered as he put the cards back into his pocket. "You're not like Nathan Graves at all." She slowly commented as she circled him, as if she wanted a better view of him. "He would expect us to do what he wanted and then just dismiss us.." He shrugged. "That was because people at that moment did. You and other familiars where merely seen as an outward projection of the owner's soul. I see you as an individual creature and I'm thankful you bothered to come at all." He couldn't be sure, but it looked like the little creature dryed away tears from her tiny face. "Let's just continue, shal we?" He asked, feeling a little akward. He always felt so when people felt loyalty toward him. He felt he didn't deserve it since he didn't do anything to deserve it. "Edward." He whirled about with his whip at the ready, just as he summoned the power of the Diana and Serpent cards. Saria spread her arms and sung one of her songs, melting the ice-balls before they could harm her, and then just giggled. "Sorry for startling you." She managed as she got hold on herself. "You should've seen the look on your face." Then she shook her head. "I'm sorry Edward. But the hatch at that other side is also closed." "Why not try this one, tree-sister?" The sprite asked as it came darting back from a darkened corner. "The sprite-familiar is right." The fairy-familiar of Adrian said as she shone brighter and revealed what the shadows had hidden. "Another hatch." He said as he went to find some boxes to stand upon. "You're sure this is safe?" Saria worriedly asked as she beheld his unstable construction. "I thought it was you who was the dryad here." He jokingly said as he climbed ontop and tried to open the hatch. "How so?" Saria asked. The hatch was frozen shut so it took him a little time to open it. "I thought dryads climbed around in their trees all day." He said as he jalted himself upward. "We do," Saria answered from downstairs. "but that is completely different and… " He heard her mumble something about humans, in general, and about him specifically, who dosen't sounded flattering. Then she came up after him. He opened his mouth to answer, but the words died on his lips as he saw out upon the landscape. "This place just can't be." He said. "This mansion and the place just about. It's just impossible." "I know." Saria said as she came to stand beside him. "It is like someone have dup out this place inch by inch and then… I don't know." She put her hand on his arm, thuging it softly. "It is a curse. The kooks where right about what they said. I feel it. And if I feel it must be quite strong." He gave her a look. She sadly smiled. "I'm no sorceress, Edward. I can feel when the forest is suffering. But I can't make out how it do so. If I can feel this one, it really have to be strong." Now it was he who took her hand in his. "We'll make it out." He said reassuringly. "We'll defeat Elizabeth and deliver the same fate to whatever creature there is who have sealed off the valley." She nodded, seemingly calmed. She prepared her weapons and they continued on.

Rover manor, Warakiya. The 18th of December 2098 A.D.
The roof-top lay empty of enemies, but that didn't make her like it any better. The roof of a manor was not the right place to be on at night and expesially not in the middle of the winter. She shook her head. Such thoughts where meaningless under these type of circumstances. Edward brought her out of her reverie as he swung his whip at the swarm of bats who came flying at them. "They are coming from the tower." He used the weapon to point with as a new swarm of bats came swarming at them. "Blue bow!" She fired her bow and some bats shattered into pieces of frozen ice. Edward slashed with his whip, brandished its metal, and then made quick work of the remaining bats. "Quiclly!" He shouted as he began to move as quickly he could, the sprite-familiar lighting his path. "There will soon be more bats coming!" No sooner he'd spoke another wave of bats came from the tower. "Thorn lance!" "Star bow!" Their commanded attacks destroyed even that swarm and the next one as well. She thanked the One the little mammals flew so thight they didn't have time to scatter for their attacks. "Hury up!" She heard Edward shout. Then she saw him summon some strange shield of silvery light around himself. Those cards really gave him extraordinary power to fight evil. Then she discovered it wasn't the bats he was defending against. Those strange elephant-creatures had broken through the other hatch and was coming at him with waves of ice and fire. She screamed as saw how they finally broke through the shield. She couldn't bear it if he died. Before she knew what she was doing. She was singing again. A beautiful green, red and golden light shone around her. She smelled the sweet scent of summer-flowers and felt the park and leaves of her own tree as a mild breeze blew past her. When she became silent, the elephant-slaves where gone. Only two piles of different plants was left to mark their graves. "That was incredible." Edward said as he came over. She noticed the sprite-familiar was gone. "Not even Torah did." Edward said. She shook her head. This was the third time she'd done something on instinct. She didn't know what was happening with her. One thing was for sure dough. She was groing stronger by each time she used her power as a guardian of the forest. The forest was a symbol of life. And since Edward was bought a living creature and someone she loved, it made sence, at least for as far it went. "God is with us." Edward said as he did the sign of the cross. She wondered if He was, or if this was a mere temptation of the Dark One. She had bean there when some of the dryads of her tribe had revealed that their power to ward their trees where really all but dark power. She was brought back from her mind as Edward threw her to the ground and slashed his weapon at another wave of bats who came flying in. She watched with awe how the man swung his hands and made four solid boulders appear and crash the bats to dust between themselves. Then he picked her up as that silvery shield appeared around them bough and then ran as quickly as he could. "You don't need to do this." She told him. "Just hold thight." He said as he again made those rocks crush the bats coming at them. "There is a balcony over at the other wing I think we might reach." She opened her mouth to warn him that the jump was to big. He picked up some cards, looking grimer than she'd ever seen him. "I hope this work." He mumbled. Then a large Griffon appeared right from a portal of wind. "I know I'm no true elementalist, like Christian," He said to the enormous glowing creature. She felt like this was the night she'd become given the final test to prove she could properly watch her tree. Edward dough, merely continued speeking to the creature who, appearintly, possessed the combined power of a bird and a lion. "But could you please bring us over to the balcony you see there?" The strick red eyes of the Griffon watched the man right into his eyes, then it bowed its powerful head. She gasped as Edward helped her to sit upon its back and the Griffon safly brought them across the abyss. Edward then bowed his head in turn, bringing off his hat as he did so. Then the Griffon again vanished. "Where did you get those things?" She asked as he again put the cards back in his pocket. "One of John's ancestors, Nathan Graves, came across these cards in 1830 when he battled Dracula." Edward said as he went toward the nearest door. "The way I understand it he found them laying around some place in the demon castle." He opened the doors and did a back-flip as he then tossed his boomerang-cross at the snakes who came from the inside. "Star bow!" The arrow shot forward and made the snakes explode. "How do you do that?" Edward asked. She shook her head. She didn't know what was going on. But now a new horde of snakes came at them and she didn't have time for small-talk. "Let's see if this work on other than distance." Edward mumbled as he again used his cards. This time to summon something who looked like a an owl and a hawk appeared. The owl began to blast the snakes to oblivion with repeated green blobs while the hawk dashed through the door and grabed the enemy spewing the snakes at them. She heard a female voice grunt and then an Egyptian woman dressed in the cloth and jewelry of a snake-charmer. "Star bow!" She shot an arrow through her hearth before she could try to charm Edward. "Let's go." He merely said. She brought the bow an arrows back on their places and instead brought out her sword and shield. "Ready." She said, Edward nodded. "Cover mer." He told her as he again made a move to conquer the door.

Rover manor, Warakiya. The 18th of December 2098 A.D.
There was at least no visible enemies present, Edward found out as he looked up and down the corridor. "You might enter." He told Saria as he went to see if the door to the tower was open here. Of course it wasn't. He grunted. But at least there was possible there could be an entry to the tower from this wing of the house. "I wonder," Saria said as she closed the door to the balcony behind her. "how the kooks might enter this portion of the house if all entries are closed?" He smiled without happiness. Of course she was right. If he'd only bean smart enough to ask them, then perhaps it would all have bean over by now. Very well, he figured. Be what may be. God knew better than him so His will be. "I'm sorry." He honestly said. He would not set against the will of the Lord. But he would sooner have found Torah if he was just a little bit good at understanding His ways. "Don't be." She said. "You did what you thought was best and I don't blame you for that. So don't blame yourself." He smiled and she returned it. She represented his hope of defeating Dracula. He would go and stay some time with her when, if, he was permited by his duties. Then their quiet little time together was broken as a long axe fell just before his feet. He jumped backward as the armour knelt and picked up its large weapon. Then another long-axe knight came to life right behind them. Saria cut the wooden handle in two and then went in for hand-to-hand combat. He summoned the power of the Mercury and Serpent cards and the armour shattered into frozen pieces. Two more long-axe knights came alive and he just barely managed to do a back-flip as they swung their large weapons at him. He summoned the cards of Jupoter and the Salamander as he made the fireballs turn them to walking pyres, just before another duo of long-axe knight nearly chopped him to pieces. "Star bow! Blue bow!" Saria's arrows made quick work of the final two knights, but only to have another two long-axe knights to come at her from the back. They where not that very powerful enemies, but the corridor was filled with armours who seemingly stood guard outside each door, and there was many doors. "Come on!" He shouted as he summoned the cards of Saturn and the Salamander. He'd spotted a flight of stairs at the other end of the corridor. And as the bat-familiar made a slaughter of the remaining knights, he and Saria made a run for the stairs. It was no idea to go up on this wing's attic, so he instead took the stairs leading downward. He thanked God as he noticed there was no armours standing in this corridor, but there was no door leading to the tower from this place either, thus they where just as long as before. Taking some few moments rest, he offered Saria a something to eat and drink by knocking down the nearest candle-stands. He slightly shuddered. This was the first time in a long time he actually felt how cold it was. It had to be late at night to he this cold. Alicia, and Adrian he thought, was the only he knew possessed a clock. He shook his head as he took a large chunk of chicken, feeling how his energy became replenished. "I think we'll make it." Saria said. He looked at her, then smiled. If he could only be sure they would not be disturbed, he would have asked her to make love with him again. She smiled at him, invitation in her eyes. He bent forward and she was good to hold in his arms. A beautiful combination of hardness and softness, her lips dough where softer still. He felt how her thounge entered his mouth and he sucked at it. If tasted like forest leaves and he felt how he became eroused. He then released her to help her unbuckle her tunic. He again used the Saturn card and released the Mandragora and Thunderbird card's familiars. The hawk and the crow agreed on defending them, then he removed his hat and coat. "Let me take those." Saria said as she spread out his coat and her tunic to make a "bed" for them. He then unbuckled his trousers and removed his boots. "Just forget the mail." She said gleefully. "Then how?" "Like this." She giggled as she made him lay on his back. He moaned with expectation and pleasure as she stroke his male member. He filled his hands with her petite breasts and then continued to charrase her body until he finally massage her vagina. He continued to touch her as he enjoyed her touching of him. Then she came down upon him and continued to do so until they bought experienced climax. "You're just so good." She whispered in his ear. "I know." He said. "I love you." He smiled up at her. They could afford this. They could take time to experience a quarter of love and compassion in privacy. He kissed her and embraced her as he thuged her to him.

Rover manor, Warakiya. The 19th of December 2098 A.D.
She smiled at Edward as she redressed herself. He was such a good lover. She was experienced enough to tell that. It was he who was the virgin of them and still he was so caring about her. She wanted as much she could get from him before they had to leave each other. He was human and thus lived a mere 100 years if he was lucky. She however would perhaps have a 1.000 years before her. The tree she warded was young and had a long life before it. Her greatest hope was to bear his child, like she had with other children. But this time, it would be different. This time it would be a child of love. "Are you ready?" Edward asked as he made the familiars and was prepared for new battles. She nodded as she brought out her sword and shield. They returned to the steps and then extended to the ground floor. But now it was stop to the peace and quiet. She became drawned backward by Edward as the nearest armours came to life and began to walk toward them. Edward ducked under their weapons and doused them in holy water, she still wondered where he'd gotten that from, and they burst into fire. The sound of clacking legs was the only warning. Out from the cellar staircase came another trio of dark elves. They summoned spiders to walk at them. "Cover me!" Edward shouted. "I'm out of crystals." He went for the nearest candle-stands as she brought the bow-string back to her ear. "Star bow!" The arrow pierced the hearth of the first elf. She quickly brought out a new arrow. "Blue bow!" The second elf fell to the floor, hit in the neck who instantly froze into ice. Then it was she who fell to her knees. She noticed Edward came running at her. Then all went black.

Rover manor, Warakiya. The 19th of December 2098 A.D.
"What did you do to her?" Edward snarled as he whipped the spiders to oblivion. "Nothing." The elfish woman smiled innocently, dough her eyes shone with a dark desire to kill. "My spider merely poisoned her." She then added gleefully. "I might always remedy an antidote, you slut of the Devil." He cursed at her as he brought out the Venus and Cockatrice cards. "You have the DSS cards!" Revolution dawned upon her face as Saria opened her eyes and slowly got to her feet. "Die!" The elf then shouted as she made hordes of spiders wave forward. He brought out a grenade and then, as he grabbed Saria and dragged her backwards, threw it right at the dark elf and the spiders. He turned his face away as the blast came. He didn't want to see a living body become torn to shreds. "Come." Saria said softly in his ear. "Let's get to the tower." He nodded and then followed her down the corridor. "Where did you get the holy water?" She asked him, seemingly in an effort to change the subject. "I found it as I knocked down one of those candle-stands." He said as he snapped at one nearby. Some crystals fell out. He knelt to pick them up and was thus able to threw new vials of holy water when a new pair of trident guards came to life. He then threw the boomerang-cross as he summoned the cards of Pluto and the Serpent. Two holy crosses flew forward and made the last armour burst into oblivion before it could even reach them. The cards where really useful tools, but he still looked forward to give them back to John. They where after all his family's hairlooms and thus didn't belonged to him. As they reached the entry hall of this wing, a group of bone-knights and male dark elves stood ready to face them. He summoned the power from the Jupiter and Unicorn cards to take the brunt of their initial attack. Then he summoned the Mercury and Serpent cards to make frost grant the chain-whip greater power. Saria was at his side as she first fired arrows and then brought out her sword and shield to dash at the enemy soldiers. Soon they fought back to back as bone-knights and dark elves where all around them. He thought about the Apollo card, but tossed it aside. He would not risk using them again before he had no other choice. If he'd only had his own blade now, the whip was better in use when the enemies where some distance away. By brandishing it as he summoned the power of the Mercury card in combination with the Salamander, Serpent or Thunderbird cards he managed to keep them at a distance as he used the Bowie-knife to block attacks who came too close. He thanked the Lord in his hearth for the mail as their blades became blocked by its metal. He bleeded from wounds in his arms and legs, he healed them with the Neptune card in different combination with other cards, and continued on. He knew it would only be a matter of time before they fell if any of them should be knocked down. He power of his Belmont linage granted additional power to his mystic weapons when he got chances to use them. He continued to use the Pluto and the Salamander cards, but even so it was like they grew powerful beyond the card's effect. Flames rouse up and waved down at enemies when he used holy water, the rain of axes made bolts of lightning blast down and the tossed boomerangs became enlit with golden flmes who made the enemies who became hitt to explode. It was like those tricks he'd learned to execute with his sword had returned to give the mystic weapons greater power. He whipped a bone-knight to oblivion and then pierced the hearth of a black elf. Then ducked as another bone-knight tried to behead him and tossed the boomerang-cross at it, beheading it in turn. A wounded black elf stabbed at him with his dagger and he roared with pain as the blade shattered against his mail and some of the shards cut him across his arm. Some other pices cut him in the leg and made him stagger backward. Saria came dashing from his back and slashed him in his chest. The dark elves insisted on wearing simple black hooded cloaks and without an armour they where defeated when you first broke through their defences. Now however, some new enemies have joined the combat. Vampires in armours and elegant dressing underneath, like former noblemen. And they where really good at fencing. Soon they stood tall against the wall and defended themselves as best they could. Now times was right for desparate measures, he brought out the Apollo and Unicorn cards. The result amazed him like nothing the cards had ever done had before. Arrows of pure silvery-white light began to rain from the above and didn't ended until all thre remaining soldiers was destroyed. Slowly, like in a daze, he put the cards back in his pocket. The path was clear. Saria brought him back from his shock as she put her arms around him. "We made it!" She joyfully exclaimed. He saw tears run down her face. "I just can't believe we made it." He put his arms around her too. They stood so a long time. Then reality kicked in. They still had to find Torah. And even after that, they needed to find the one who had put the curse upon the valley. He spent some time to heal them, then they went toward the end of the other corridor.

Rover manor, Warakiya. The 19th of December 2098 A.D.
The tower was like an enormous box of stone, Saria figured. Stairs lead up toward the top and from where she stood, she could see that stairs lead even deeper into the ground. She sat cross-legged upon one of the steps, singing silently to herself as Edward was busy outside to knock down candle-stands, obtaining new crystals. Finally, as he returned, he had with him some new vials of holy water. "I was lucky who found these." He said as he put them into his belt. "The dead fencers crushed the vials I had." She nodded as she got to her feet. "I fixed your coat and jacket." She said as she picked them from where she'd placed them on the floor. "Thanks Saria." He said as, giving her a quick embrace, then he recoiled his whip and placed his other hand near his other weapons. She brought out her bow and arrows. If there was any enemies here, then her bow would be a better weapon against them. As they reached the first set of platform, at the first floor, the sealed-off door became shattered into bricks. "Get behind me!" Edward shouted as he swung the whip at the lizard-dancers who came running at them. He made a bubble of light appear around them, taking out the first set of daggers they threw at them. Then he ran at them as he made fireballs fly from the chain-whip. "Blue bow!" She fired her bow and a lizard-dancer fell crying into the abyss. Edward was now involved in fierce hand-to-hand combat with his Bowie blazing against the metal swung ty a lizard-women a litter taller than him. "Blue bow!" She drew the string to her ear and then sent the arrow flying. The lizard-dancer managed to side-step her, but even she didn't watched her steps and was sent tumbling to her demise. Then she screamed as the blade of a dagger dug in to her left shoulder, leaving her uncapable of firing more arrows. She did have one final weapon dough. She brought two throwing-daggers out from her tunic and threw them at the lizard-dancer. She caught the creature in bought the neck and belly and sent even her flying. She was sure dough, that it was dead before it would reach the rocky floor far below. "Let me fix that." Edward grabed her shoulder and when he removed his hand, the wound was just gone. "Thank you, Edward." She said as she retrived her bow and the arrow she'd dropped when she became hit. "Keep an eye open." He warned. "I'll try to jump first. Fire if there is any enemies about." She nodded and then he began to jump. Then the skeleton who'd lay limp on the farest platform suddenly came to life. It spew heavy flames at him. She screamed. There was nothing she could do, Edward was too far off. She thanked the One as she noticed Edward had managed to dodge the flame by making his whip grab onto a metal-rind imbedded in the wall. She jumped above the first gap, then the second, as Edward landed safly beside her. "Take this your morbid moron." She heard him mumble as he made four balls of solid ice twirl at the bone dragon and turned it to frozen ashes. "Good work." She said, Edward sheepishly grinned. "Sometimes I tend to be a little over-dramatic." He admitted. She couldn't help but give away a giggle. He was so cute when he apologized himself. "Just come on." He grunted as he jumped the final platform. She prepared to follow, as the door to the second floor became blown out. Edward ducked in time to avoid the flying bricks. "Star bow!" She fired her bow and the arrow penetrated the throat of the first elephant-slave. She gasped for breath as she staggered forward, then, without a sound, fell down the shaft. Edward had already dashed up the stairs as he made the crow and owl familiars keep the enemies busy as he reached them. She jumped the last distance as she knelt to get a better aim at the battle upstairs. As Edward made his familiars disappear he made light shine around his whip as he attached the group of elephants.

Rover manor, Warakiya. The 19th of December 2098 A.D.
The last of the elephant-slaves collapsed to its death far below. He dried the blood on his Bowie off by using the black leather-west of one of the other dead elephants. He then got to his feet. He'd used the Venus and Neptune cards in different combination to heal himself and felt prepared for the final obstacle. The tower reached one final floor up and then they would come out on the top of the floor. If he knew Elizabeth right, something he knew he didn't she would see forward to another showdown with a Morris. "Could you move a little?" Saria had came up to him, retriving what arrows she might find. "There is no arrows inside the candle-stands?" He asked somewhat puzzled. "I've found a few." She said as she was drying the arrow-heads clean of blood. "But you need the crystals you might find so I won't hinder you." He shook his head. "I can just carry a certain number of crystals." He told her. "I have what I might need so the candle'stands are all yours." She giggled slightly as they went to jump the platforms. This time is was Saria who jumped first and he used the Saturn card in combination with the Cockatrice and Thunderbird cards to give her save passage. There was another bone dragon there who tried bringing her down, but his familiars made quick work of it. He thanked them before they returned into the cards. He couldn't be sure, but he was almost certain they looked grateful about it. Then he jumped the platforms himself. "Thank you." Saria merely said as he caught up with her on the last platform. "No need to… " He began. She cut him off as she drew his head down to her. She removed his hat to mess with his hair as she kissed him. Then she released him as she put the hat back on. He slightly laughed as they began climbing the final staircase. The wind blew snow at them as he opened the door. He buttoned his coat and then stepped out.

He looked around on the open platform. The floor was covered with snow which the wind continued to play with. He didn't mind. He'd hoped to find Torah here, but all there was, was a single crystalline orb, placed at an elevated platform, at the center of the roof-top. "Where is my sister?!" Saria shouted, a coil of mist came drifting and suddenly she just was there. He unbuttoned his coat and cracked the chain-whip at her just as he threw the boomerang-cross at her. Elizabeth again became mist and then again retook human form someplace else. Her heavy dark red hair blew around the face from which her burning red eyes beheld them. She was shrouded in cloth of the same colour and of the finest fabric. The low cut blue dress she wore underneath was decorated with pretty-bow in red and gold around the neck and sleeves. Even dough he didn't love her, he couldn't keep himself from being attracted by her perfect luxurious body. "She is not here." She suddenly answered. The voice was just as molded to be converting as the rest of her, a deep hoarse voice with the same ancient accent as he'd heard the dark lord speak in. "Then where is she?" He managed to tore his mind off of the way she seemed to smile at him, the way the blue dress gave away the impressing round curves of her bosom. "Who are you?" She asked him in a tone soft as silk. "I feel your fear." Her voice became softer still. "I know who you are." She smiled, a smile which made chills go down his spine. "Put away your weapons." She said as she came some feet closer. "And I will tell you what you so much desire." He backed away from her. He knew who he was. He'd seen what she'd done. And still he wanted to know. He wanted to know who he really was, what had really happened during World War II. His hand thightened around the cross he carried. "O Lord!" He shouted in his mind. "In the name of Jesus, show me the truth." "Then come with me." As he closed his eyes, a being, a boy, stood before him. "Time is short." The being said. "This I will show you." Then a view like no other revealed before his inner eyes.

Jonathan Morris and Charlotte Orlean fought against the Dark Lord in the Warakiyan province. He saw Lewis Schneider and Eric Lecarde battle French and German Nazist somewhere in France. He saw Richter Graves help Ann Fernandez to escape the German camp of Ausvitch. He saw James Morris and his daughter, Rachel Morris, someplace in Britain. He saw…

He opened his eyes and blinked. Had he seen them? Seen the house of Belmont during the World War II? It had bean so blurry, he wasn't even sure of the names of the persons he'd seen. But had James Morris, the brother of Nonathan Jr. really bean the founder of the present house of Morris? Whatever the chase might be, he felt calm and at peace in a way not even the statues of St. Mary, he did the sign of the cross, could make him feel. Upon the sign, Elizabeth snarled and drew backward. "I am who I am." He calmly said. "I'm Edward Morris of the Belmont clan. What else is unimportant." She spat at the ground. "Then, "Belmont", I can inform you that your little Miss Magic have bean sent off to a place where she might learn her place." Suddenly she opened her cloak, like he'd heard Dracula did. "Like you would come to learn yours. Balls of destruction!" From the opened cape came three bat-inhabited blue balls of flames flying at him. The battle was on and this time it was against a member of the circle of blood. Not to mention against a vampire who was in actual linage with Dracula himself. He jumped the fireballs as he brandished the whip. It took out the flames but she'd already turned to mist and had reappeared somewhere else. "If Morris you are," She said with a look on her face that made him feel cold in his very bones. "then you might solve this!" She rouse her arms into the air and four orbs, an orange, a blue, a purple and a grey one, came flying from nowhere. "To make this just," She then laughed as she again rouse her palm. "I shall leave this up to you." She fired a burst of energy who made Saria, who'd prepared to fire her bow, flying to the ground. She then spread her cloak and made a trio of fireballs blast toward him. He jumped the blue flames as he brandished his whip to extinguish the flames as he threw holy water at her, just as he combined the Pluto and Serpent cards, as he at the same time summoned the power of his Belmont blood. Two waves of flames hammered into her and she screamed, she managed to unlit the flames and then laughed like a maniac. The four orbs had reach the center-orb who turned bright orange. "Time is up, Morris." She said with such evil that he actually felt sick. But he didn't have time to sooth his feelings as a monstrous wave of orange flames came washing toward him in that very instance. With nothing left to do, he summoned the power of the Jupiter and Unicorn cards. The barrier rouse just in time to take off the brunt. But no sooner he'd avoided the blast, Elizabetha made four new orbs appear. "Balls of destruction!" The countess then shouted as she spread her cloak. Three balls of bat-inhabited blue flames rocketed toward him as he summoned the cards of Diana and the Serpent so balls of ice became shot directly at it. He then threw his boomerang-cross and gave it greater power by summoning his Belmont blood. Golden flames blazed around it and Elizabeth screamed with pain as it opened a gash in her shoulder and, upon its return, in her roused arm. But again the time was up. The center-orb glowed a a brilliant grey as it practically began to rain with daggers. Again he rouse the light-barrier in time. Then he slashed the whip at her just as he opened the cloak. She staggered backward as he stabbed his Bowie at her. She managed to block and then sent a pungh at him. He ducked, he knew the time was nearly up and kicked her in the abdomen and sent her sprawling. Then the time was up again. The center-orb shone a blazing purple as lightning bolts began to rain all about. He rouse the light-barrier and thus avoided being hit. Now he understood why she'd knocked Saria cold. If they'd bean two then they would've bean quick enough to strike her the appropriate times. Jonathan Morris and Eric Lecarde had bean strong enough together to strike down this monster in 1917. It had to be a way to defeat her. He jumped the fireballs and whipped at her, but missed. "How do you dare?!" She to his surprise screamed as his weapon instead of her struck the center-crystal. Before he knew he'd done it, he made holy water rain over the thing. "Amen." He smiled and did the sign of the cross as the thing shattered into pieces and the approaching orbs vanished with a hiss of different-coloured smoke. "So," To his surprise, the countess had again became calm. "you truly are a Morris, and a Belmont by blood." Then an expression so cold that it made him shiver, appeared upon her face. "You have proven your worth." She said as she teleported some distance away. "Now your time of destruction have arrived." Then she spread her cloak and pointed her palm directly forward. "Crimson lightning!" A bolt of lightning struck down directly toward him. He dashed forward, summoning the thorn whip by using the Mercury and Mandragora cards, and slashed her right at the palm. She teleported like mist and then again spread her cloak. "Claw of Nightmares!" A large claw of blue energy came at him, screaming like a ghost. Shocked by this show of force, he just barely manage to rise the barrier in time. He threw vials of holy water and made flames wave about her. She screamed as the flames roared and burned. She teleported like mist and again managed to avoid defeat. "Balls of Destruction!" She made the three-way fireball attack wave toward him. He managed to side-step the attack, but the howling wind following the assault sent him flying. He landed beside Saria. "Thank God." He prayed as he combined the Neptune and Mandragora cards. "What happened`" She mumbled groggily as she slowly opened her eyes. "Find out yourself." He said as he ran to avoid a new flurry of fireballs. He made electricity shroud the chain-whip as he combined the Mercury and Thunderbird cards and now it was he who sent Elizabeth sprawling. He tried dousing her with holy water but missed as she again teleported to mist. "Crimson lightning!" Again he was sent hammering into the floor as the winds tossed him about, following the bolt of lightning. "Balls of Destruction!" Elizabeth made a new trio of fireballs roar at him. He managed to destroy one with his whip and then extinguished the others with his throwing-cross. He then got to his feet as he again summoned the power of the Pluto and Serpent cards and made the holy boomerang split into two who made large wounds scar the vampire's body. She cursed him as she jabbed at him with her claws extended. He roared with pain and stabbed at her with his Bowie. She countered with her arm, even dough blood oozed from the gash he'd just opened. He saw to hold his mouth as shut he could as he again stabbed at her. She screamed as the blade pierced the flesh right between her breasts. He knew he'd missed the eharth, but didn't care. He dropped the whip ad grasped his cross and stamped in where he'd stabbed her. She screamed with pain and anger as she stabbed directly at his manhood. He grunted, staggered backward, then he used the Venus and Black Dog cards to heal himself. Still half-blinded with pain, he wasn't quick enough to back-flip as she punched him in the chest and sent him flying. He lost his cross but was still clear enough to toss the boomerang-cross at her. Having secured himself a little breather, he dashed for his whip, his lost hat would have to wait for later. He made golden flames burn around the chain-whip as he managed to counter the fireballs she sent at him. Then she landed directly ontop of him as she tackled him to the floor. She stabbed at his throat with her nails, just as he stabbed at her with the throwing-cross. "Watch out!" Saria's blade came down through Elizabeth's back just as he opened a large gash along her chest and belly. The vampire countess screamed, blood running from her mouth, as she made flames burn about her hands. He roared in pain, but still was able to speak. "The head!" He shouted. Try to behead her!" SElizabeth laughed evily. "Your little slut cannot help you now." The blood dripping from her lips made the smile even more grotesque. "Time to die, Belmont." She tore open his collard and rouse her head, and Saria's blade came down and cut it clean away from the body. The body however continued to burn him with the small flames, making him moan with pain. "Back to Hell." He wined and then stabbed her through the hearth with his Bowie. Then he kicked it away. Just in time as the corpse burst into clear red flames who burned bough head and corpse to ashes. "It is over." Saria said, giving him his lost cross, and his hat as well. He weakly grinned, then grimaced. He combined the Neptune and Salamander cards and then felt better. A ball of clear crystal suddenly appeared in his hand. "I am with you." A voice said in his mind, then everything vanished in a flash of bright light.

Forest hill, Warakiya. The 19th of December 2098 A.D.
When Edward again opened his eyes, he lay aside a campfire upon the hill. The sun was about to rise and he felt how a smile went across his face. "You're finally awake." Saria came to sit by him. "We made it Edward." She said as her eyes glimmered with tears of joy. "We now ist where the manor once stood. The lonely hills of Poltergeists is no more. Now they again are what they where. The humans said its name is "forest hill". I like that name." He put his arms around her and held her thigtly. "I hope Torah is safe." She said as the tears now really began to run down her cheeks. "I'm sure she is." He said as he dried away her tears. To change the subject he asked. "Where have the mayor and the others gone?" For the first time a real joyfull smile crossed her face. "Back to Oldhill village. Edward, they wanted me to thank you for all you've done to save them. Samuel wanted me to give you this." She brought out some vials of shining crystal. "Now you might have real vials of holy water." She said. He couldn't help it. He laughed and kissed her. Then he rouse. Before them lay the mountain where the one who'd cast the curse dwelled. But before them, lay a frozen waste of bare rock and smoldering craters. "What is that?" He asked with awe. "It is the Jam wasteland." Saria told him. "It is where the miners dumped all the rocks and stones they dug up from the mines." He nodded. It was still a long hard journey before them, but he would do this. Then he would stop at nothing to find Torah. And if she was wounded, if she was harmed in any way… He calmed himself, doing the sign of the cross. "Well," He said as he began gathering his belongings. "we better get going." Saria nodded, already prepared with her bow at the ready.

Barnsdall mine, Warakiya. The 19th of December 2098 A.D.
The white witch got to her feet. Someone had made a strike at the curse she controlled. Just then she felt somebody had entered her domain. That acursed Belmont and his two spell-casters must have defeated countess Elizabeth. The Dark Lord would not at all be pleased by this. Her com-crystal then lit up. "Well?" She aggressively asked. "What is it?" It was Gwendolyn, the witch stationed at the forgotten village. "My lady." The young witch began. "I report because I have resieved one of the Belmont kick-backs here." For a moment she remained calm, poundering this new information. "Good, good." She then said. "I shall join you after I am finished here." The other witch nodded, saluted her and vanished. She returned to her seat. It has become a serious blow to lord Dracula's control of this vally, true. But if she could only defeat the Belmonts somehow. The black witch had faced them in the power-plant and even dough she was an arrogant fool, she had warned her of their power. She could not ask for assistance. It would be a useless action since it would take considerable time to bring more troopers here. The troops she controlled was spread out over the entire wasteland and there would take time to gather even them. Then again, now there was only two of them. Countess Elizabeth had bean more powerful than her, but she possessed other kind of magic than the vampire countess. She was growing thin on choices and did not like it. Then she came to remember the second curse they lad cast upon the valley. It would secure her spirit if it should come to battle. Things was beginning to become much more complicated then she had expected them to be. She then made her choice. She activated the crystal once more. "Bael," She instructed. "prepare for assault." The were-lioness bowed. "As you wish my lady." She nodded. "Very good."

Forgotten village, Warakiya. The 17th of December 2098 A.D.
Dimitri Blinov rouse. Lord Frost was a fool who had sent him this useful servants. "You are prepared?" He asked the four individuals. They nodded or replayed with the manner natural for them. He smiled. If the children did not cover in fear for these creatures, nobody could make them. Then he would have no choice but to kill them. That would really be a pleasure too. He softly laughed as he teleported them all away with him. Whatever the outcome might be, he would be granted new power. Dracula should soon learn the lesion for underestimating him.

(A.N: I hope you all like this. As you well know, this chapter is written in the honour of CotM and Castlevania Bloodlines. Until next time, have a nice week-end.)

Chapter 26: The Story Continues | Back to Chapter 24