Part 1: Gathering darkness.

"You shall see greater things than this."

Chapter 31: Bloody Tears.
Barnsdall mine, Warakiya. The 20th. of December 2098 A.D.
The white witch knelt upon the floor, her white cloak spread around her like a pile of snow. The Dark Lord Dracula loomed above her, the blackness beneath his hood gazed down at her. "He arrest there. Thou arrest sure?" She bowed her head. "Yes my lord." She had been a vampire for more than 100 years but when the Dark Lord put a ghostly hand on her she could not help to slightly shudder. "You serve me well Liza Bernhardt." Her master said. "Go forth, serve my power." Then he was gone. She quickly rouse and did not stop before entering the audience room. "My lady." Two Bael stepped forward on her approach, bowing their heads. "We have assembled the bounty-hunters as you requested." The white witch slightly smiled. She disdained the bounty hunters. They where traitors, living off of society. The New Order had to be kept in good order. A group of five creatures entered the room. When she first considered this oportunity she had gone through the files on the scavengers currently present in her domain. Molly Graham was an ice-blonde vampire with blue eyes, armed and armoured in a plain silver-white techno-suit. The weapon-robe of hide-cloth made it difficult to spot her movement. However it was the droid, SD-88, who stepped forward to present their services. She did not mind. "There is a price of 30.000 pieces of gold to whoever brings Saria Goldenleaves to me, unharmed and unspoiled." She put some weight on the last sentence. "I will tolerate no disintegration. Now, go. Heed my words." "Yes my lady." They bowed and scraped all until leaving her presence. She dismissed the Bael and went to sit down. Mist shrouded the pond beneath her throne. She focused her mind and images of her enemies appeared upon the murky surface. Her sister was a fool. Darkness was the ultimate power. Lord Dracula was the Dark Lord and he portioned the power only to those who served him. She would send lord Frost to their master as soon he returned. Then she could lay her full attention to the plot which would give her more power than any other inhabitant of the valley. The Dark Lord Dracula would be pleased. She looked forward to rest in his arms. She calmed herself and again focused her mind. She had to be calm if she where to achive victory.

Forest hill, Warakiya. The 20th. of December 2098 A.D.
Edward Morris looked out across the countryside. Then he shook his head. "I'm afraid we've really done it this time." He told Saria. "Really I don't know how many times we've get lost." Saria gently squeezed his hand. "Don't worry." She smiled up at him. Her red hair framed her face just so natural. He smiled back at her. "You just are so beautiful." Her eyes shone. "Sorry, young master, but I think you should see this." Adrian's fairy-familiar appeared between them. Edward grunted but then looked toward where the delicate creature showed him. "Get down." He snapped as he threw himself to the ground. The snow was cold and all the rocks didn't make it any better. But a little pain was worth the effort to not be spotted. A flock of black birds flew across the sky. He didn't need the fairy's warning to understand the ravens where spies for whoever ruled the countryside. He'd hoped their problems would be mostly over when slaying Elizabeth Bathory. No chance for that. Since they'd left the ruined mansion they'd tried find a way down. So far luck hadn't been on their side. Edward got to his feet and dusted off the snow. If whoever ruling the walley wasn't trying to find them he could've used his own magic. The Griffon, the Thunderbird or even the Manticore could easily have flown them out of the hills. Saria mumbled something to herself as she inspected her bow. She'd removed the string and even dough it'd stopped snowing she hadn't put it back on. It worried him that she couldn't react quick enough if they became attacked. Then again, a wet bow-string wouldn't do any good either. He did the sign of the cross and brought out the chain-whip. He whipped down a few of the candles and picked up the crystals which fell from them. With things as they where he would have to put faith in his own spiritual abilities rather than upon the DSS-cards. John should've given them to Christian instead of him. "I think it's all clear now." The fairy-familiar told them. "Thanks, little cousin." Saria smiled at the tiny creature. Edward wondered what that really meant but, as usual, he didn't have time to ask. He finished picking up the crystals and put the whip back upon his belt. They began walking forward and Edward had to carry Saria as they climbed across the fallen boulders littered across the landscape. Saria slipped down from his back and finally Edward could stand straight. "I still think we should return back into the hillside." Saria told him as they looked about for clear passage onward. "I know." He said. "But I still disagree. It took us five hours to just find the way out of that mess. I'm not prepared to return just yet." Saria shook her head. "There must be a path here somewhere. If we could just find it. The Dark Lord would never allow his servants to be here if they went lost all the time." Edward couldn't help but smile somewhat. She was right. But he didn't like the idea of using roads known by Dracula's followers. It gnawed on his nerves to constantly look out for ravens. But he was satisfied with that as long they didn't meet anything worse. The only problem was that they might not have any choice. Edward had felt relieved when leaving the heart of the hills but that lasted as long it took them to uncover the end of the hills. To their right the hills ended in a terrible abyss with piles of splintered rocks and downfall boulders at its feet. In front of them the hills rouse again, he could see a cluster of trees on their side. Due to the lack of earth up here the trees where often small and twisted by the wind constantly blowing. These trees however looked like the large evergreen he'd seen in Barnsdall forest. The fairy-familiar flew slowly toward them. Edward prepared his chain-whip and Saria brought out her sword and shield. She was a better archer than she where a fencer, but purpose and need had carried her through so far. Not that the New Order's common soldiers where that experienced Edward thought. They trusted on their numbers and in the black magic of their Dark Lord. Then the familiar returned. "There is no ravens there." She told them. "But there is a building there. And multiple humans." Then she added. "There are other creatures there too. There are the creatures, the beast-men, of Dracula." Edward and Saria exchanged glances. "What do we do now?" Edward asked although he already knew the answer. He did the sign of the cross. Then they began preparing to enter lion's nest.

Barnsdall mine, Warakiya. The 20th. of December 2098 A.D.
The white witch was used to cold but this penetrated even her undead spirit. She rouse and turned. It was two of them, hooded and cloaked like black crow. Even with her superhuman ability to hear she couldn't even hear their heart beating. Even dough she heard their poisonous hissing breath. She bowed her head. This was no mere messenger of the Dark Lord Dracula. She wondered what they where here for. If it was for the Belmont or lord Frost. They might even be a part of the delegation which has come to search for Dimitri Blinov. "The Dark Lord knows about you." One of them hissed. She shuddered. Had they come to trap her with a mind-trap? "When Shaft arrive you are to surrender the dryad to him." Impossible. This was her plot, her chance to gain power. The other dark wander stepped forward and put a black glove upon her shoulder. "It is a part of the Dark Lord's plot. But he will compensate you." He put up his left hand and opened it. In his palm lay one of the reknown black pearls. "A relic from the dark ocean." She picked it up, awe going through her. "It is a presious gift." She said. The dark wanderer nodded his head. "It is. Will you obey?" She bowed her head. "It shall be as lord Dracula demans." Nobody disobeyed the Dark Lord, nobody who was still alive. She blinked. The two wanderers where gone. Only the black pearl still lay in her palm. She thre her head back and laughed. Finally she understood. Things where not as they seemed. She would continue to watch the events. But unless the Dark Lord Dracula commanded her to do so she would do nothing to aid or hinder those in the valley. She would take the dryad and give it to Shaft and Actrise when they arrived. Outside of that she would give Damien Frost the message from their master. She returned to her seat and again turned her gaze upon the pond.

Forest hill, Warakiya. The 20th. of December 2098 A.D.
Edward threw a glance up at the sign. The place was called "The dragon and the girl". A fitting name for a guest-house serving serving Dracula's followers. He buttoned his coat so his whip was hidden and then opened the door. A gust of hot air and multiple rised voices greeted him as he stepped inside. The fire was lit with a glorious pyre which felt good after the cold outside. Other light came from some dusty old oil-lamps hanging down from the ceiling. A fourth lamp lit the bar where a huge bear-like man with grey beard sat watching. Saria closed the door behind them as he stepped inside. He hadn't needed to hide his weapons. Those who didn't cary one liky had some hidden or concealed one. The clientel seemed to concist mostly of humans and beast-men. Edward noticed bough goats, lizards and boars among the croud. Upon a table close to the fire-place a 19-year-old girl danced and sang a rather nasty lyric. Her dirty white blouse was so low-cut that it was like she would fell out with each step. She moved about in the dance and so often showed her legs you would belive she actually had no skirts. Edward growled deep in his troath and continued walking. He now could see what this was for a place. There where no female soldiers here. The dryads and human girls he saw where all prostitutes. To his surprise he noticed even a few female lizards. Their scales and bad hair-cut didn't do them much credit. But they moved with a grace which made even the dancing-girl look clumsy. A few of the men sent Saria inviting looks but she only traded them a cold stare and continued walking. Edward smiled, shaking hid head. He only hoped it where enough girls here to not trigger a fight over his friend. The fairy's card lay safely in his pocket. If these thugs had seen a fairy they would kill each other, and himself and Saria too, to capture a fairy. They where among one of the most expensive wares on the underworld's black markets. From the shadows a dark hand reached at him. "Looking for someone?" A sweet voice asked him. Two large brown eyes looked up at him. The hand was circled with a bracelet of false gold and she even carried another "golden" neclase around her neck, decorated with "jewels" of plain coloured glass. Her bare feet made almost no sound against the planks as she stepped closer. "Marion." She said as she made a pink little thunge cross her painted lips. "Sorry girly." Saria stepped in fromt of her. "He's with me." Marion giggled. "Why not fill in with a second dish?" She put her hands beneath her bosom. "They say I'm a nice throw-in when doing threesomes." "We shall concider it." Saria said. Edward waited until Marion had gone before he almost hissed. "What was that about?" He mimicked her words. "We'll concider it." He shook his head and almost his fist. "We're not here to pick up prostitutes." "Calm down." Saria said as she threw a meaning look around them. "What do you think men come here for? The meaning was to draw no attention. If you'd pushed her aside people might wonder what we where really doing here." Without another word she stepped over to the bar. Edward scrathed his head and then put the hat back on. Women where strange, what was it. He mumbled beneath his breath as he joined Saria by the big man just in time to hear his answer. "Sure there's a road down to Jam." The big man said. "It's just a few yards from the "Girl" and you'll find the ladder." He smiled, showing the empty holes where several of his teeth should've been. "But I advice you to stay over. There's strange folk abroad and none of them are rather friendly. Take my words for it." He then blinked at Edward. "I saw Marion had a good eye for you comnour. Go over and ask for a hand-job. Tell it was old Joe who told it and she'll do it for free." Edward forced a smile before ordering an ale for him and a brandy to Saria. They moved over to a table which was only occupied by a snarling old boar-man. "What do you suggest we do?" He asked after a sip of ale. It tasted real good. All to long he'd been forced to drink melted snow. He absenty wondered where old Joe had found weeth. Even with the new greenhouses seed was rather expencieve. "Of course we could drink up this liquid and get away." Saria suggested while she gave her brandy a mourney look. "You hear what he said?" He asked. She nodded. "I'd hoped we'd thrown them of scent with the "short-cut" through Ravenberg." Edward said as he took another sip of his ale. Saria smiled although it didn't looked like she meant it. "The dark wanderers never stops hunting you." She said. "Even if you defeat them they merely retain new shapes and will continue to haunt you. They stand and fall with Dracula." Edward grimly nodded. Then he noticed he'd emptied his stoap. He was about to get up when the door open and a hooded figure in a dark cloak entered. Then a second and a third entered. He felt his blood turn cold but then he breathed a sight of relief. That was no dark wanderers. But then he went on the alert. The third figure remained at the door while the two other went to speak with the bartender. "I don't like this." Saria whispered. "Hello old Naga. I see you and SD is out hunting a new price." Marion had approached the figure at the door and now put a hand upon him. Edward hissed. Beneath the black cloak he'd noticed the glimmer of a heavy weapon. "Is there advanced darksiders outside the Ravenberg?" He quickly asked. "Sure." Saria said. "Dracula boosts an entire army of techno-madness somewhere. But I don't understand… " Then she of course noticed it. "Look." She pointed at one of the figures at the bar speaking with old Joe. "I see it." If that wasn't one of those shadow-droids he was going to eat his hat. "Don't draw attention." He silently warned her. "Prepare for everything." Saria nodded. He could almost feel her anxiesty. Edward only hoped they didn't have more soldiers with them.

Outside a raven lifted off from the window on which it had sat and flew eastward. It's mind carried information which would please its mistress.

Forest hill, Warakiya. The 20th. of December 2098 A.D.
Saria cursed and fired an arrow. She didn't understand but they where after her. SD-88 rouse its heavy gun and fired at her. The guest-house where in an uproar. The dark dryads had brought out their own weapons. Edward stood back-to-back with her, cursing as he flailed his whip about. The bounty-hunter had ordered all dyards to show their IDs. When she'd refused they'd opened fire. Naga threw off his cloak and showed himself as one of those were-spiders. He fired small missiles at her and although she managed to dodge they'd blown large holes in the walls. A dagger came flying through the air. The dance-girl exposed her fangs and sent another kife flying through the air. Then she screamed as Edward doused her in holy water. He then spun around to throw daggers at Marion who also exploded into flames. The living guests and prostitutes where quickly running away but old Joe wasn't among them. She He grasped a heavy hammer and came running toward them. "Blue bow!" She hoped she didn't commit evil as she killed the man with a well-placed magical arrow. "Give up tree-lover." The third figure had also thrown off its cloak. The white-fured were-cat twirled an electrical lance to block her arrow. "Enemy calculation estimate 100&%." SD-88 coldly remarked. "The calculation do not conclude to confident approach." "Yes. Yes." Naga snapped. "I know perfectly you idiot. Just take her into custody." "I don't think so." Edward moved into a ready position with his whip and Bowie-knife at the ready. Saria tried acting just as intimidating as she brought out another arrow. "Naga!" The cat shouted. "That's the Belmont who killed Maeglin." "Shut up Celina!" The spider snapped. "I don't care who he is. Just capture the tree-hugger." She couldn't help but smile. These wasn't as confidient as they tried acting like. Good. Then they where bough even in the "acting cool" game. Celina was the first to act. Her close-fitting white suit changed colour to mimic the surroundings as she dashed toward her. Edward cracked the chain-whip and made two circling fireballs fly out to meet Naga's missiles. He then spun around as his whip caught frost and shattered the lasers shot by SD-88. "Star bow! Blue bow!" She fired her bow and then dropped it to the floor. She ducked but still became hit in the cheek. She tried to get up but just couldn't move. Then darkness took her.

Barnsdall mine, Warakiya. The 20th. of December 2098 A.D.
The white witch stood down in the warg cages. Some of her ravens had spotted the Belmont. Not that she actually needed it. They had begun using magic and thus she could track them. She was no expert warg-rider but she had other servants which knew that art well. Not that she had many to go with. Only 20 wargs and riders where presently stationed at her seat. Their leader, only marked by the few gold decoration on his armour, came clanking over to her. "We are ready my lady." His dark growling voice displeased her. These creatures where gruesome and had no education to speak of. But they where usefull. "Go out in pair of four and four." She demanded as she tried restraining a snarl as the rider threw a glance at her bossom. But he did obey. "Yes my lady. Is there any other instructions?" "My ravens will tell you where to go to find my other troops. Then the ravens will deliver new orders. No you might go." He bowed and she was glad her white robes hid her as well they did. When they where all gone she she calmed herself by freezing the cages over. They would get some problem with removing them when they returned. If the Belmont killed some of them it was what they deserved. She turned and left the area like mist.

Forest hill, Warakiya. The 20th. of December 2098 A.D.
Edward Morris combined the Apollo and Serpent cards and then threw a powerful ice-grenade forward. The remaining portions of the guest-house called the "Dragon and Girl" exploded. Sharpened icicles spread all across and make even the rocks shatter. He knew it'd been a mistake all along. But they just had to get some guidance. Saria lay unconscious at his feet while two of the bounty-hunters where still standing. Luckily he'd been able to pick down that cat before she could drug him like it'd done with Saria. "Come on Pixie!" He shouted at the fairy-familiar. He'd summoned her to even the odds. Unlike Marcia however she was no fighter. All she'd accomplished this far was to saw confusion in SD-88's compute and make Naga feel sick. That was nothing against a battle-hardened warrior like the were-spiders. And after what he remembered the SDs where the New Order's most advanced war-droids. Then he summoned the power of the Diana and Serpent cards. The combined magic make him throw frozen orbs from the whip. It was said that Christopher Belmont could do that on purpose without using any cards. Naga activated his back-pack and from a distance made it rain with grenades. The harp-backed explosive made the earth erupt in freezing explosions. He made SD-88 freeze inplace with one of his own ice-balls and then quickly changed tactics. He used the Pluto card and Salamander crd in combination and then made it rain with holy water. He used the same combination as he threw his boomerang-cross. It split into a countless symphony of crosses which was hurled across the area. Then Edward ducked just in time to avoid a series of shots from the SD-88 machine. It'd come free from its frozen state and now continued to fire shots. Edward rolled out of reach and then nearly dropped downthe slopes. Regretting ever having entered the inn he summoned the might of the Uranus and bough the Salamander and Black Dog cards. The two mythological creatures appeared. "Defend me!" He shouted. Just then Pixxie came darting in as she made a mysterious powder fill the air around Naga. Clearly it hindrered his vision so that he flew right into the hhillside with a nasty cracking sound. He collapsed in a heap and moved no more. Then SD88 came marching forward with its blasters blazing. Then the Salamander jumped in to protect him as the Black Dog launched itself against the machine. But the droid made quick use of its magic. It became shadows and appeared right behind the Black Dog. "Watch out!" Edward's warning came just in time to save the poor creature who jumped aside as SD-88 opened fire. The Salamander staggeredto its feet but would've fallen if it wasn't for Edward which supported it. The Black Dog continued to dodge although they bough knew it couldn't go on forever. Pixie fluttered about the cursed droid but seemed unable to harm it. Edward made the Salamander and Black Dog disappear again and then he and Pixie prepared to defend against this seemingly unstopble enemy.

Forest hill, Warakiya. The 20th of December 2098 A.D.
Saria slowly opened her eyes. Every inch of her body felt like it'd been hammered daily for more than a week. However as she tried to rise Saria felt her strength began to return. Then she felt a new strength well up in her. It felt like the ceremony celebrating the mother of trees, only this was even stronger. She sang and felt tears on her cheeks. Whyy she should weep she didn't understand. As she song mysterious things, wonderful t behold, began to happen. Snow melted beneath her hands as grass began to grow and flowers bloomed. She got to her feet. Before her Edward, the fairy-familiar and the mysterious machine where fighting ach other. It looked lie Edward was loosing. She closed her fists. She would not allow this metal-monster created by sick twisted mind defeat them. Saria sang and suddenly flowers began growing along the machine's limbs. It tried becoming free by using black magic but she wouldn't let go of it. Then Edward was there, whipping a weapon of electricity. The machine screamed as it was slashed to pieces. Then it exploded. Saria sieced singing and it was like all strength left her. Edward recoiled his whip which now looked like an ordinary weapon again. He ran over to her and picked her up. "Quickly now." He said as he helped her climb onto his back. "The New Order will be drawn to this place like bees. With all the magic we used it wouldn't b easy for them to pick it up." With the fairy-familiar in the lead he hrried along the abyss. Finally when she'd almost lost hope he found the path leading down. "There." Edward said after they again where finally down. Suddenly he turned his head to grin at her. "We did it Saria." He actually laughed a bit. "We've escapedthe Forest hill." Saria didn't smile. If Forest hill had been a forboding sceene then this was like the end of the world. Not a tree, nothing alive, was to be seen. The land was a wasteland of polders, frozen ashes and powdered piles or pieces of giant rocks. "I hope you enjoyed your ale." She dryly remarked. "Not even a cuisidal would dare melt thi snow for drinking." Edward nodded Then he opened his backpack. "I have one and a half bottle of water. And also that brandy you didn't drink." A slight grin again appeared upon his face. "The bartender was to busy watching you to notice I stole one bottle." He got serious. "As cold its down here I expected we might need something in that genre." Saria shook her head. Her strength where finally back but it wasn't nothing like she'd felt before. She was slightly afraid of what it might mean. Perhaps she was a dark dryad after all? She shook her head again, unwilling to even think about it. "Don't look on me like that." Edward said. "I left several of my crystals there. Those gems should be enough for Joe' heirs to live a life in luxury." Saria wanted to tell him that him stealing wasn't her concearn but then shut her moath. She wasn't sure she could tell anybody about this. At least not yet. She unstringed her bow and put them bough away. Edward mumbled something she couldn't quite hear before he put on his backpack. Then they started walking.

Forest hill, Warakiya. The 20th. of December 2098 A.D.
Molly Graham threw down her communicator and steppedpon it. The T-shaped vicor of her helmet almost concealed her snarl. The dryad was worth 30.000 pieces of gold. But now it became personal. Naga and Celina had been comrades during many a hunt. She was not going to stand by and let her escape Although she'd gotten the emergency-call to late she would hunt the dryad until she got her. "Coram!" She shouted, making her sole reminding comrade return. Coram was a vampire like herself, but a male one. Instead of a silvery one he bouste a heavy black techno-suit. The type you would expect a droid-lieutenant to wear. "They must be out on the wasteland." Coram remarked. "If you say so Robin." Molly trusted his scent which was even ceaner than her own. She activated her rocket-pack just before Coram did. Together they flew out across the wasteland

Barnsdall mine, Warakiya. The 20th. of December 2098 A.D.
Liza Bernhardt restrained curses from leaving her lips. She calmed herself. The pond had shown her all which had transpired after the Belmont began using his cards. Now the murky water only shown her splintered images and splinters of possible events. Any other time that would be enough but this was no ordinary events unfolding. The white witch rouse and left the thone. She drew aside the curtains so that a blue walls of frost became visible. Upon the wall hung a plain round mirror. Liza Bernhardt threw back her cloak and reached with bough hands toward the oval object. This was one of her most powerful items. The magical mirror was an heirloom of one of her ancestors which once had been queen of what now was Germany. The mirror spoke the truth but not like youwould expect. It was not always the mirror would ask either. The spirit locked within the mirror was still fury toward those who had imprisoned it. No matter. She needed the answer it might give her. Without more addition she spoke the words which would awaken the spirit. "Mirror, mirror on the wall, who is to win in this world?" The mirror lit up with ugly green flames and an empty human skull appeared. "Thou ask whom arrest to loose and whom arrest to be victorious my lady?" An eerie dough distant laugher sounded. She did not answer. She merely nodded. "Cursed be thy kin thou whom imprisoned me. Hear my words and despair." Then images quickly appeared before her before they quickly disappeared. Then the mirror became blank plain glass again. The white witch gasped and stepped backward. She almost wanted she had not watched into it. Not that she had seen much. She had seen Drolta Tsuentez lay dad in a cave disrupted by time. She had seen a white man step across Dracula's corpse to fight a blonge man with a whip. She hadseen Shaft laughing as he placed a black orb in Carmilla's hands. Finally she had seen herself inwolved in a duel with the Belmont with the hat. She shook her head, gathering herself. She had to tell the Dark Lord Dracula about this.

Jam wasteland, Warakiya. The 20th. of December 2098 A.D.
Snow cracked beneath his feet while Edward walked across the wasteland. He had buttoed his coat but still it was cold. Although sun was rising it was going to be a clear day with frosty weather. He didn't look forward to it. Beside him Saria was shivering with cold. She hadn't reacted to the weater before even dough she barely bousted that tunic and sandals. But now it was like the weater had hit her with its full weight. Edward knew there was nothing he could do although he still pounder the question over in his mind. "It's not as bad as it looks." She tried reassuring him. Then she said almost to herself. "It's the land. The countryside has been polluted through centeries of digging and through careless use of chemicals." She rouse her gaze to look him in the eyes. "Jam wasteland is a destroyed land. It's a cursed earth. My magic could just as well be like nothing." Saria's voice sank to a whisper. "I have to struggle to even keep in contact with my tree." Edward pushed back his hat to scratch his head. What in God's name where he to do? His ancestors had always seemed to happen upon helpful traders and merchants who purchased helpful items and magi relics. Renon could be out there somewhere but he where not to be trusted. If he'd only studied theology instead of learning how to fence he might have been able to summon God. He doubted a miracle would happen just for his sake. "Get down." Saria threw herself toward him and fell him to the ground. He looked up to scout for ravens. But then he felt that eerie chill which warned certain death. He'd been an idiot to not pay enough attention to their surrounding. "Sorry." He whispered as he put his hat over Pixie. They would be finished if they where to spot her glow. The two dark wanderers seemed to had risen from the ground itself as they stepped slowly closer. Edward could hear their poisonous hissing breathing although no smoke rouse out of their hoods. He hoped they wouldn't spot the smoke coming from his or Saria's breath. Edward had heard Torah and Alicia tell about these creatures and he knew they could feel his presence although only in a vage way. The ability to smel their blood actually worried him more than if they should feel his presence. Edward felt his blood turn cold as he heard the sniffing sounding toward them. Then a flock of ravens streaked across the sky. The dark wanderers stoped and then they again began walking. But this time it was removing from their direction. Edward didn't move however until he couldn't hear them no more. The wanderers where already mere dark spots against the horizon. He didn't rise however before the sky was clear ofbirds. He picked up his hat and put it back on his head. Pixie fluttered into the air and flew close to his face. "Sorry I didn't see them in time master." She exused. Edward waved it off. "I don't blame you. We should've felt them ourselves. And Pix, call me Edward." Saria smiled at the little creature. "Don't mind you didn't see them. Wraiths have always been difficult to detect." Then she turned to Edward and added with more than a little glee. "They don't see fairies that good either." Edward rolled his eyes. "If I may break into this interesting conversation." He jested in return. "I suggest we continues walking before the wanderers return." Now it was his turn to add with glee. "If they might return now to see whom of us is killing the other." Saria hid a slight giggle behind her hand before she joined up beside him.

Saria knelt beside the fire. Edward mumbled something as he gave a small purce over to Renon. She dealt Edward's mistrust toward the demo trader but they hadn't been left with any choice. Saria felt slightly ashamed. It was she who'd collapsed andnearly frozen to death. Not that Renon had been much helpful. Sure he'd sold them wood and a magical bracelet which made her withstand the old somewhat better. But Edward had been forced to purchase some warm clothing for her too. Saria again let her hand toutch the fur on her new tunic. She now bousted a pair of boots too and a pair of brown trousers. It felt slightly strange dough. She hadn't been used to wear anything like it home in her colony. She knew if she had't been a dryad this wouldn't be enough to warm her. "Is there anything more I might do for you?" Edward smiled although it seemed it didn't come from his heart. "Some gloves and a scarf for myself would by nicely, thank you." The samlesman tipped his hat and opened his suitcase to bring forth the decired goods. "That would be another 150 Euro young master." Edward handed him another purse and then put on the scarf. The gloveshe put in under his belt. "Have a nice day young sir." Reno bowed and then vanished. Saria hung her head. "I'm sorry you had to do this." "Don't be." Edward knelt to pile snow upon the fire. Pixie came out from her hiding-place. She disliked Renon even more than they did. "I think it'll be best if we got away from here." She suggested. Saria wondered how much the might actually believe in the fairy-familiar. After all she'd betrayed them once to the New Order. "Wait." Edward brought out his chain-whip and stepped over one of the slopes. Saria and Pixie exchanged glances. Then Edward came walking back. "We're in trouble." He said. "Coe with me. But for God's sake be quiet." She prepared her bow before she went after him. Before them lay a relative plain area. Out from a hole in the ground a group of chained figures walked. From their showels and digs and rough and ragged clothing Saria would say they where miners. Then the wind changed and a scent of rotten flesh filled the air. "Holy Mother of trees." She exclaimed. The poor creatures down there where all zombies. But unlike other of the living death which served the New Order these didn't scared or appaled her. Against all sence she felt pity for them. "They must be minors which perished here long ago." Edward whispered in her ear. Saria immediately saw it now that he mentioned it. They carried bag containing earth. She could see as much when the living dead began vashing the containment of the bags in a pond they held open y digging into it with their shovels. "Stay here." Edward said as he brought out his chain-whip. "And keep t quiet." He began to rise and Saria grasped after him. "Have you gone crazy?" She hissed. "There must be at least 20 or more zombies down there." Edward smiled slightly. "Perhaps I'm mad. Or perhaps I'm saving some poor fellow's soul. Be quiet now." She growled but let him go. "Don't worry little mistress." The fairy-familiar tried to confort. "Edward knows what he's doing." Saria mjerely rolled her eyes. If she'd been stupid insisting they should entr the tavern, here was her punishment. She turned her gaze toward the living dead again. Edward where nohere to be seen. Had he fallen into one of the craters or the shafts found throughout the wasteland? Suddenly Edward seem to spring from the white landscape, whip in hand and running toward the dead minors. Then he struck. To Saria's surprise he didn't hit the zombies but rather the chains holding them together. The chain shatter and the dead where free. Saria brought an arrow to her bow, expecting the dead to attack. Instead they merely continued working. Then one started moaning. Then another and another all until the where all moaning and crying out. From what had been completely silent now turned into a corous of moans and screames. But it was all so sad. Then they all at once started fading. They fluthered into the air and as they finally turned to dust she almost thought she heard moans of joy or relief. "There." Edward recoiled his whip and then began throtting over to her. "Then that is dealt with. I hope the Lord will hold His lamp high so they might find an easy way home." Saria slowly nodded. Pixie fluttered up to sit upon Edward's shoulder. "You are a good man master Edward." The fairy said seriously. Then she bowed her head. "It will be apleasure serving you." Saria removed the string of her bow. She almost couldn't believe how the familiar so easily linked with Edward. The man had no elder blood in him. Pixie rouse and flew before them as she joined with Edward. "Thank you for trusting me." Edward suddenly said. Saria couldn't help but blush "Actually." She told him. "I didn't."Edward threw her a glance, then laughed. "I quessit don't matter." Still somewhat laughing he started walking. Saria glared at him. Then she gathered herself and ran to keep up with him.

Above them flew a raven. It followed them before it flew eastward.

Barnsdall mine, Warakiya. The 20th. of December 2098 A.D.
Lord Damien Frot retained his human form. He threw back the black hood so his long blonde hair could fall to his shoulders. He shaped one hand into a fist and made an eerie blue flame lit the room. Nobody had been here since he left to spy on Dimitri Blinov. A pity he could not just wave his hand to lit the fire, like Dario Bosi did with such ease. No matter. He sent a ring of ice to collide the gong at the other end of the room. Immediately two lizard-men entered. A pity it was no Bael. He enjoyed the graceful exotic were-cats which had joined the New Order. The lizard-men lit the fire as the second one left to return with a female of its own species. Then the men bowed and left the room. "How might I serve you my lord?" The ice-dancer said in the lispy accent of her kind. Frost smiled and went to stand beside her. Unlike the males of this species the female actually grew hear. At least on their head. He put a hand beneath her chin and rouse her snote so she might return his gaze. Cold bluish-green eyes looked back at him "My lord." He let go of the lizard-dancer and rouse to face the new-arival. "What is it Bael`?" The Bael bowed. "The white witch old me to say that have to join her as soon you arrived." Lord Frost rouse an eye-brow. He was not used to demands from that direction. "She also told me to say you this." The Bael quickly continued "The Dark Lord Dracula has told her to do so" Frost acknowledged this with a short nod. "So be it. I shall go to her. Show me the way Bael." The lioness stepped forward and beaconed hi to follow. He gatheed his cloak around himself and then stepped forward tojoin her.

Jam wasteland, Warakiya. The 20th. of December 2098 A.D.
Saria stamped in place to keep her warmth. Edward had insisted to stop so he might take out some more candles. Although she was grateful for the arrows which fell out she didn't mind playing around. "Finished with the target-practise?" She sarcasticly asked as Edward picked up some more crystals and then recoiled his whip. "No." He calmly answered. "I never will be in this kind of envirement." Saria rolled hr eyes as Pixie giggled. Suddenly Edward was back on the alert. He slashed the whip sky-ward and a raven burst into fire. Two more birds avoided the attack. Saria fired a shot and took down the second one. A good shot on suc short notice. But the third raven managed to escape. "Don't mind it!" Edward shouted as the fairy-familiar tried chasing it. "You know what this mean?" Saria asked. Edward nodded. "May God be with us today." He prayed. She put the bow on her back. Se would be prepared when they attacked. It'd been to esy to long. Saria should've known something sooner or later would happen.

Barnsdall mine, Warakiya. The 20th. of December 2098 A.D.
Cold drops shaped upon the cavern wall and then dripped upon the floor. The open torch cast a flickering shadow. The prisoners moved worriedly about as far their changes reached. The white witch felt their fear and was pleased. There was only three let of them now. Liza Bernhardt reminded herself to send some servants to the forgotten village to purchase more blood. She would have to remind them to purchase males, human males. "Take him." She told her Bael. "The dwarf is of no use to me." They released im from the chains and then forced him to kneel. Had it not been for long ill treatment he would have thrown them away and then made an attempt to escape. Now he meely sunk to his feet. Although he looked at them with unsetteling hatred in his eyes. No matter. "Dwarf." She told him. "I will send you deeper into the mine. You will be given time to rest and rebuild your strength." The little fool spat at her. She smiled. "I would have killed you for less dwarf. But the Dark Lord Dracula decrees all dwarves are either to servethe thirst for blood. If not they are to labour in the mines." She turned to the Bael. "Take him away." They dragged him away as she returned her attention to the two remaining captives. One of them, the brunette, didn't even mind rising her gaze. It was good. At least one of these fools who thought they coulddefay the power of darkness had learned her place. The white witch did not mind much about women really. These two could have risen high among those who cared for the pleasures of the flesh. To be honest all vampires did to one degree or another enjoy such pleasure. But she cared les for her pleasures than for her power. She now actually consider ease herself with a feast of blood. He white witch had told the Dark Lord Dracula about what she had seen in the mirror. "Thou should nay see in te mirror." She reminded herself. "The ancient mirror Mourd arrest not meant for the likes of thee." She breathed and gathered herself. The Dark Lord Dracula had reminded her about those souls who had lost their mind or starved to death when gazing into the mirror. She knew it was true. But she also knew that not even the most gifted magician could tell what was false and what was true in what the mirror showed you. She snarled and snapped out with her hand, grasping the neck of the blonde who had dared to look bck. The girl tried crutching together, wrapping her long legs and arms around herself. The white witch laughed. "Do not think you might escape from me you wench." The girl whimpered. She exposed her fangs and prepared to dig them into the human's neck. "I hope Imight join in with you my lady?" She let go of the girl ad quickly rouse. The human whimpered although she did not care. "Lord Frost." She bowed her head. "I have looked forward to see you again." The other vampire returned her gesture. "So have I with you." A smile crept across his face. The white witch continued to speak. "The Dark Lord Dracula has come to me and decreed that you are to return to the castle Dracula." Lord Frost's smile disappeared. "I have not betrayed lord Dracula." Liza Bernhardt bowed her head. "I have not said so." Lord Frost dismissed her statement. "I know." The other vampire shrouded himself in a black cloak. "So be it." The smile returned to his lips. This time however it was a cold detached one. "I shall go." He again bowed his head. She returned the favour. Then he turned and disappeared into thin air. The white witch returned to her pleasures but was again disturbed. "My lady." Another Bael entered the cave. "I have news about the Belmont." The white witch again threw the blonde human to the floor and then spun around with her wand rised to point at it. "What is it?" She hissed. "My lady." The Bael hispered while licking her lip. "Scouts has returned to report contact with the enemy." A second Bael appeared, offering a quick salue. "My lady. Minig-command reports that a band of their workers have disappeared.One of the dead bands I might add." The white witch opened er mought to speak. Then became cut short as the sensation of spell-casting hit her like a punch. "It is the Belmont." She almost whispered. Then she focused her attention upon the two Bael. "Tell the miners that the resistance-movement has freed their slaves." The Bael bowed and left. Liza Bernhardt turned to the second Bael. "I want all forces to concentrate on the Belmont. I want the dryad brough here, mmediately." The Bael bowed and then even she left. "As for you, my little chicken." She smiled as she liked her fangs. "Welcome to the pleasures of the flesh." She then dug her fangs into the neck of the blonde woman.

Jm wasteland, Warakiya. The 20th. of December 2098 A.D.
The first warning was the wild rough laugher of their enemies. Saria felt chills went down her spine. She'd heard many a tale of the warg-riders who haunted the forest. Which riped and slaughtered the poo dryads they happened to cross. A look the narest to hate she'd ever seen on him crossed Edward's face. "I know that laug." Then he snapped. "Pixie! Come over here!" He made her disappear back into her card. "Whatever happens to us they wouldn't find you." He grunted s he put the card inside one of his pockets. "I don't understand." Saria confessed. "What have they ever done to you?" Edward snarled as he cracked his whip. "It's a family bueisness and don't matteranyone else." He must've seen the hurt look in her eyes. Edward slightly smiled. "They almost slaughtered my family way back in 1947. That's all." He told her in a sad voice. Then the warg-riders was upon them. The giant grey beasts almost where invisible against the snow and the dull armour of the riders where just as difficult to detect. "Get the slut boys!" It was four of them and they quickly began circling them. Edward must've have eyes in his back as he spun around and whipped at the rider who'd prepared to stab at him. The whip twisted around the weapon as Edward drew thebeast from its sadle. The armoured monster fell hard and the warg launged at hm. "Edward!" Saria screamed with horror just as her arrow dug I between the warg's for-paws. The warg snarled and bit at nothing before dying. Saria liked her lips. She didn't like killing anything. Expesially an innocent wolf who merely did as it was rised to do. Then she noticed it already had began rotting. She swallowed heavily. Hatever this thing was, it was certainly no ordinary wolf. She fired again and caught one of the armoured beasts in the neck. It fell out of the sadle and the war jumped to the side. The first rider got to his feet and brought out its sword. Saria fired an arrow at one of the riders still on its war gut missed. It stabbed at her and she had to make a back-flip to not bepined to the ground. She dropped her bow in the process and the riders laughed menacl at her. Let them laugh. Saria sang one of her tunes and the snow beneath their feet egan to melt. One warg slipped although the second continued toward her. Saria side-stepped the warg-rider and then stabbed the warg. It fell grawling and biting to the ground. The rider gotup and drew his own sword. She knew if she wasn't careful she would be dead. The rider swung at her, laughing as he went on it. "It'll be really niely hearing you moan and sprawl." It swung at her again and again she made a back-flip. "Come on baby." It stabed the blade at her. "I promise you'll ike it if I stab at you with something better." Saria blushed with anger. The rider again stabbed at her. Nstead of doing another back-flip she instead side-stepped. "May you rott in eternal soil!" She screamed at it. The rider tried to turn but she stabbed right through bough armour flesh and bone. Blood oozed and she had to pull of a quick back-flip to not be sprayed all over. The war-rider screamed and collapsed to th ground. Saria had to throw up as she saw how it rotten away jus before her eyes. "Die you slut" Saria instinctively dropped herself flat as the second warg-rider attacked. "Didn't your mother tell you anything?" She grunted as she hacked at its legs. "She told me more than you know." The warg-rider easily avoided her blow. "She told me how to tame wild-cats like you." Sara continued to roll as the rider stabed and then swung at her. "Be still you little… " Then a whip hit home, one, two, three times over and then a fourth and a ifth. The rider collapsed and then immediately began to rott. "Here." Edward offered. "Let me give you a hand." He helped her to stand. Saia eagerly wieved the rea. She quickly made notice of the four fallen riders and two dead wargs. That wasn't the oly problem dough. "Who are they?" Edward asked while preparing his whip. "Garoyan rat-warrios." Saria picked up her sword before uncovering her bow. "I'll take the bone-archers." She told him. Edward nodded. "Let them come." He grimly said as he did the sign of the cross. Saria nodded. The enemies attacked.

Jam wasteland, Warakiya. The 20th. of December 2098 A.D.
Molly Graham and Robin Coram prepared their weapon. Coram rouse his looking-lass one last time. "All is clear." He told Molly. His comrade put her helmet back on. Unlike her Coram bousted no weapon-robe. "They're to busy killing each other to mind about us." Molly nodded. "Just keep the Belmont occupied long enough for me to reach the dryad." "It's me, remember." Molly sorted, then lughed. "Trid to have a little confidience my boy." He activated his rocket-pack and flew into battle.

Jam wasteland, Warakiya. The 20th. of December 2098 A.D.
Edward flailed his whip. "God with us!" He cried his war-cry as he combned the Mercury and the Mandragora cards so his whip became a weapon of thorns. "Staor bow! Bluebow!" Saria calmly fired arrow after arrow. Pixe fluthered around the heads of the bone-archers and tried confusing them. "Watch out!" Saria shouted. "The Garoyan rat-warriors use to poison their weapons!" Edward snarled as the rat-men threw boomerangs at him. He combined the Pluto and Slamander cards and make it rain with holy water. The wargs which where still alived howled and then ran away. Although the warg-riders had nearly killed him Edward had made himself sure at least they where dead. He'd not speant tme studying the family legends but even he had heard about Lewis Belmont and his fight with the Dark Lord in 1946. The boar-men had finally gathered themselves andwent on the attack. Although some of them fell with Saria's arraows buried in them it where just too many of them. This time Edward hadn't time to use his cards. He and Saria stood back to back. She brought out her sword and shield as he drew is ancestor's Bowie-knife. Pixie flew wildly around them and healed them as quickly she could. Saria sung a tune of the spring to fuel herself with energy, or so he thought. Edward stabed with the Bowie as he brandished the chain-whip. He thanked God for his mail and chest-plate as the boar-men and rat-warriors where all around him. Blood ran from his shoulders and arms just as Pixie came darting in to heal him. The sudden light seemed to occupy his enemies for some time. Edward combined the Diana and Manticore cards. He swung the whip and pointed spiked spread about. Edward laughed as his enemies scattered to avoidhis attacks. "Drop the whip, farmer." A man in full body-armour and helmet lande n front of him, blasters rised against him. Edward snarled. He'd hoped they'd shed off the bounty-hunters by killing the group which had attackedat the tavern. "Don't call me farmer you bounty-hunter." He slashes his whip and struck the rifle from his hand. "Out of the way!" The bounty-hunter commanded, waving his hands. Some of them tried to speak against him but finally he got it as he wanted. "So be the will og the Lord. God is with me." Edward made the sign of the cross. Then he moved into a defensive postiure. The bounty-hunter laughed then fired. Edward snaped his whip in defence but the bounty-hunter seemed to have expected his move and moved out of reach. "Block this if you can!" He flew into the air and then threw several grenades at Edward. Edward brandished the whip ashe combined the Mervery and Serpent cards. The grenades shattered into frzxen shards and then exploded. The bounty-hunter flew overhead s he released several bolts of energy from his wrist-guns. Edward combined the Neptune and Golem cards tostrenghten himself and thus making himself strong enough to remain unharm. He then slashed the chain-whip about as he tried hitting the enemy with a repeated throw of holy water. A vial hit home, Edward cried victoriously. Then he becamesilent. Flames burned about but the armour seemed unharmed beneath it all. "Mirror-steal."Edward cursed. He should've expected a bounty-hunter to use tricks like that. Mirror-steel was an experimental prototype developed by the British ilitary some few years before the ice. Of course Dracula's agents where dying to get there hands on something like that. Time to bring in the big guns. Edward ashed to one side as the bounty-hunter fired a missile at him. He prepared to dodge again if it would home in on him. Luckily it justwent past and blew some unfortunate boar-men to pieces. "May God forgive them." He quickly made thesign of the cross. The bounty-hunter fired another rocket before throwing some more grenades. Edward ran to find some cover. As he ran he brought out the Apollo and Serpent cards. "Let's see if you mmight repel the power of sapphires!" Then he threw a grenade of blue frost. The bounty-hunter managed to dodge and the lost souls ran to avoid the impact. A powerful blue light blinded all of them as the huge explosion hit the earth and spread frost all about. Edward wasn't through just yet. He combined the Apollo and Serpent cards before combining the Apollo andSalamander cards. Flames and frost tore the land apart as a repeated explosion threw them all about. Finally when Edward gathered himself the followers of Dracula where on a wild retreat. The bounty-hunter where nowhere to be seen. Then he noticed even Saria was gone. "Saria!"He cried. He summoned Pixie and made her fly abou to search for his girlfriend. When the fairy-familiar finally returned it was only to drop the pendant containing the piece of her life-tree into his hand. Clear drops fell upon it. First then Edward noticed he was crying. "Sorry Saria." He whispered. Then he noticed the tree was still alive. Edward felthis heart leap. She was alive. "Come on Pixie." He said as he cracked the chain-whip. "What are we going to do=?" She asked him. "What Alucard asked of us." He said. "An when doing so I'm going to free my friend." The fmilar saw his expression and asked no more. First they'd taken Torah away and now they'd taken even Saria. He was not going to rest before they where bough free. He did the sign of the cross and then began walking.

Barnsdall mine, Warakiya. The 20th. of December 2098 A.D.
The white witch stepped forward. This was a moment she had looked forward to since she had first uncovered the truth. She entered the audience hall and sat into her throne. "Bring them in." She told the Bael. Her id bowed and then left the room. She quickly returned, joined by the two bounty-hunters. All Liza Bernhardt was interested in where the dryad held by two lizard-men. "Good." She said. Two more lizard-men entered the room, carrying a wooden chest between them. "Here you have your price." The bounty-hunter in the black armour knelt to open the chest, letting his hads go through the piled gold. Molly Graham brought out a handheld computer. A portal opened and the bounty-hunter carried it inside. He returned and Molly Graham closed the portal. "Thank you my lady." They bowed before they left. The white with rouse from her seat to stand before the dryad. "Do you know why I have spent so much time searching for you?" Saria defiantly looked back up at her. Then she shook her head. "You'll like to use me to trap Edward. But I'll rather die than betray him." The white witch smiled, exposed her fangs. "The Belmont have been an irritament to my master. But this have nothing to do with him I am afraid. It is all about you. As you well know the lgend of the Barnsdall valley and the plight to protect the forest." Revolution dawned upon the face of the dryad. Then she shook her head. "You're crazy." She said. "That's merely a myth." The white witch smiled even broader. "A myth it is indeed?" She laughed. "We will soon see if that is the truth. When the Dark Lord Dracula's delegation irive ou will be there when we reveal the truth about this "Myth". Lizard." She commanded. "Yes my lady?" "Take her away." The lizard-men had to drag her along. When they where finally gone the white witch went toward one of the wall. "Open." She hissed and th door opened into her secret domain. The door closed behind her. Liza Bernhardt gestured and the torches lit with eerie blue flames. Embeded within the ice where piled riches. She walked past without careing. At the far end of the room a frozen Mammoth towered above her. In front of it, upon a pedatal of black rock, stood a coffin. It where her resting-plae. The white witch passed her coffin and went toward an old American chest. With another gesture she made it open. In this chest lay what her clan had gathered throughout nearly 1.000 years of serving Darkness. She brought out one volume of the 13 tomes of forbidden lore stored in the chest. She opened it and ead a few pages. Then she nodded and put the book back down before closing the casket. The white witch smiled. The Dark Lord Dracula had been right. She threw a glance throughout the chamber. All in here where heirlooms of her ancestors. It was all tied to their blood. When she where to pass into Chaos these items would be brought by black magic to whomever had the reight to hold them. Thisarea was the heart of her evil habitat. Even when the sun was still up, like it was now, she could still use her black magic. Soon it would be sundon and her full power would return to her. She became mist and lay inside her coffin.

Jamwasteland, Warakiya. The 20th. of December 2098 A.D.
Clouds gathered in the sky, treatning with more snow as the sun soon would set. Edward shuddered slightly as he felt the wind was picking up too. Snow cracked beneath his feet was the only sound in the silent landscape. He hoped Pixie would warn him in case he happened upon more of those craters or ditches. Although Edward had put on his gloeves he still felt the cold bit at him. Smoke rouse from his mouth every time he breathed. "Watch out!" Pixie screamed and Edward dropped himself to the ground. Several arrows flew through the air. From a slope in the landscape came the sound of cracking bones. Edward summoned the might of the Venus and Griffon card to ad up his agilety. He darted forward and landed among the bone-archers. Some fired arrows at point-blanc range whie other tried to escape. Edward flailed the chain-whip and then threw his boomerang-cross to take out the remaining bone-bags. Then a warg-rider stabbed at him. Had it not been for the card-magic he would've been dead. Edward made a back-flip just out of reach as the warg dashed against him. It sent Edward sprawling and just as it moved in for the kill heused the throwing-cross, which he still held, to cut its troat. He rolled out of reach for the dying beast and got back on his feet just as the rider swung at him.Pixie darted in and surprised the beast so that it missed. Edward was back on his feet and whipped at it. Blood spilled about as the warg-rider collapsed. The second warg-rider stabed at him. Edward roared but managed to remain standing. Again the mail had saved him. Edward threw the cross and made flames appeararound it. He then brought up the Bowie in time to counter the third rider. "Behind you!" Pixie warned. "The wargs are behind you!" Edward dopped and the warg dashed right into its rider. The second warg bit at him. It felt like being tore by knives. If it'd been a Ferir he would already been dead. Then the warg fell dead to the snow. Edward looked somewath dazed on the blade ofhis Bowie which had pierced the heart of the beast. E pulled it out and turned to face the remaining enemies. Two riders and one wargs where still alive. The rider likely killed the one which missed him on mer accident. The warg-rider still on its mount stabbed at him as the rider on foot circled to appear behind him. Edward threw holy waer around him to rise a burning circle, bying some time. He jumped through the flames and stabed at the rider with his Bowie. For once the blade didn't hit an opening and it just bounched off of the armour. "I have you now." The rider laughed and swung at him. Edward ducked and flailed the chain-whip but missed the rider who moved to dodge. Edward rolled to the side and the second warg-rider rode right past him. Edward jumped to sit behind the rider. "Curse you!" The rider tried stabbing at him but couldn't fully move in his direction. Edward stabbed it in the neck and fell the limbless corpse to the ground. The warg did its best to throw him off. Edward tied to kill it but the fur was to thick for his knife to harm it. The warg finally got him off and Edward rolled to make it more difficult for he remaining rider to stab him. Tired by the battle it was more difficult to get up. Pixie came to heal him but magically replenished strength don't work half as good as eal restituation. Edward could only pray it would last long enough for him to defeat the last warg-rider. The rider had mounted the remaining warg and came at him with its lance extended. Edward managed to side-step but it looked like the rider expected himto do so. Without stopping the beast drew its sword and swun a him. The mail saved him from a finishing blow but even so he again became thrown to the ground. Th warg drooled as it moved in for the kill. Edward ad lost bough his Bowie, the whip and the throwing-cross during the battle. He brought out his last holy water and threw it right into its face. It howled and trotted as fast it could to cool the flames in the snow. Edward had time to get up and to refill his vials with snow to create more holy water. He wuld need it. The warg-rider came at him again. Edward dashed at the Bowie. He got to his feet just as the rider stabbed at him. Edward stabed in return but where unable to penetrate the fur of the warg. The rider stabbed its lance and sent Edward flying. Edward struggled to his feet and threw holy water at them. But now the beast had got it and cooled of in the now. He waved about in the snow for the throwing-cross. Edward thanked his God as he not only found the boomerang-cross but also his chain-whip. He thanked God again as he saw Pixie flying in circles around the head of the rider and its warg, distracting them. Edward showed no mercy. He threw the boomerang-cross at the rider and whipped at the warg. They fell to the ground and immediately began to rott. "God forgive me." He whispered, doing the sign of the cross. He had to do what must be done. But he wasn't proad about it. The knowledge that the rider would've done the same gave no comfort. Edward sat down and brought out some food and drink. Pixie came to sit on his shoulder. He felt energy return to him while he ate. "You want something?" He asked her. "Than you master Edward." Edward picked of some portion of the dried vegitable and gave to her. She flew down to his hand and picked it up, piece by piece. She ate like a lady of Adrian's time, Edwardsmiled. It gave him some slight comfort he wasn't all alone. Suddenly he got to his feet. Edward had long since been aware of them although unable to fire out what his eyes told him. Now e knew it without any doubt. Walking toward them, although still at some distance, came a dark wanderer Edward immediately threw his hat down upon Pixie and then threw himself to the ground. Then all he could hear was the wind and the approaching steps of Dracula's servant. As it came even clouser Edward again could make out the poisonous hissing breath of the wanderer. Edwrd tightened his hand around the whip. There was no hope in escaping this time. He got to his feet and although a slight shiver wnt through him Edward moved into a defensive posture. Then he gaped as the wanderer passed just by. Edward didn't dare to let go of the wandere until it'd almost disappeared. Then he turned. Before him stood a giant, marvellous and glorious to look upon. He was dressed in a red robe fured with the skin of a polar-bear. White hair and beard fell down to frame a smiling genorus face. Edward sank to one knee. "Father Christmass." He said with te most deepfelt respect. "Is it to become Christmas at last in Europe again?" The old man laughed. A long good laugh which made Edward feel warmer then in a long time. "Long the ice have kept me away from this little globe." Father Christmass told. "But now at last the people again call pon my name." Pixie landed onhis shoulder. Edward almost didn't notice. He rouse a hand to dry away the tears from hs cheek. Through the threeyears which had passed since the ice came the people had been to busy keeping themselves alive. Edward had himself been among them when attending t Mass and had prayed for help. He knew times where hard but still the people in Veros had looked forward to celebrate Christmass. Father Christmass smiled down at him. "Throughout Christinity they celebrate Christmass again. I have come to those who serve the Lord to fortell of happier times. And to previde what little help I might give." Edward shook hishead. "Isn't it yet to early for you to come?" The old man shook his head. "True Christians keep Christmass with them all the year long. They know how to celebrate it in bough past, present and in the future. Suddenly his smile became even broader. "I even have a present for you." Edward didn't see how he made it but suddenly ather Christmass held a sword in his hand which he put into Edward's shaking hand. He grasped it and the old man gave him its sheat and belt. "Although Christmass is the time of peace." Now father Christmass had grown serious. "I wish to give you this Christmass gift as I remind you about the words wrightened." "You mean that abot the two swords?`" Edward asked. The old saint nodded. ,"A life under darkness is not peace." Then his good humour seemed to return. "May I soon see you again. Merry Christmass!" He shouted. Then added, more serious than Edward had ever seened him. "God save all men and qomen. God bless you." Then he was gone. Edward looked around but father Christmass where nowhere to be found. "May we truly meet again." Edward said,doing the sign of the cross. Then he resheated the sword and decided to hand it across his shoulder, beneath the coat in a somesort Japanese fasion. Edward slightly smiled by the thought. What he knew of Japanese fighting-stiles you could put in a cup with plenty of space for tee. Whatever the case dough. Now he might finally put the Mars card into work too. Edward started to walk as the first flakes of snow fell upon his hant. He didn't mind to dust it off. As he moved forward he noticed he'd left the opn wasteland and had entered a new even more forbidden landscape. Huge boulders lay about, somewhat concealed within the snow. Huge dar pine-trees rouse high into the sky. Suddenly the mountains seemed to stand just before him. Edward awed by strong wild beauty of the land. Edward picked himself together. Although he couldn't sse it from this direction Edward knew that high up in the north lay the demn castle Dracula. As he walked forward Edward saw the wounds inflicted by Dracula's followers. Trees where cut down and lay rotting and the ponds where filled with rubble and piled rocks. Edward curled his hands into fists. He prayed that his and the other's attempt to purify the land would heal even this land. Edward crossed a tiny creek pon an old wooden bridge. At the other end he came in on a road. It was old but carried proves of having been used. Edward guessed this was the main-road used by the followers of Dracula, to cross between the forest and the mountains. "Don't mind it." Piie tried to comfort as Edward passed what remained of a cross which had stood beside the road. Edward stepped out to clean awa the snow. "May God forgive them." He mumbled as he found the cross to rotten to save. E got to his feet and then continued walking.

Jam wasteland, Warakiya. The 20th. of December 2098 A.D.
Edward stopped walking. Before him was the entry nto a long sloping valley. It reached almost four kilometres from one side to the other and where at least one and a half kimometre on the broadest. Edward cracked the chain-whip and then tried keeping his warmth by stamping in place. He'd sent Pixie to scout. She'd been gone for almost an hour now and Edward began to feel worry for her. He head somebody coming on the road and dived in behind some trees. Upon the road came a goup of enemies. Edward could see bough bone-archers and Garoyan rat-warriors. There where even some goat-men and boar-men among them. Edward felt his blood turn cold as he noticed a fairy-lamp hanging from the leader's belt. He gathered himself and then ran out. Edward brought out his sword and Bwie as he attacked the back of the group. The bone-archers spread out t fire at him but Edward used the Uranus and Salamander cards to summon aid. The magical beast appeard and upon his command began spitting flamesto take out the arrows. The rat-warriors threw their boomerangs. Edward countered by throwing his own throwing-cross. Blood soon ran from multiple new vounds as as the goat-men came running in to defend their bang-members. Edward made it rain with holy water and then fused the Marsand Thunderbird cards to give his sword more power. He knew that without his magic he would soon have been defeated. As it was it was he who made quick work of them. The Salamander defeated the last bone-archers and then vanished. As the last of the boar-men fell Edward began searching for the fairy lamp. When he found it he quickly shattered it against the nearest rock. When it was destroyed a purple fairy fluttered up to float befre his face. "I am Rose." She said with her head hung low. "What do you command my master?" Edward shook his head. This wasn't Pixie. But even if it wasn't he felt happy for having freed her. "Nothing." He told her. "I wish nothing." Edward smiled slightly. "All I wish is that you mght be free to serve God and live in peace." He blushed slightly. It ounded rather pompous. Damn it. He meant it anyway "You, you want me to be free?" Rose looked up at him, shining with a confused brown glow. Edward nodded. Rose began weeping. "I cannot be free." She shakily told him. "My fountain is destroyed and the mother is dead. If I cannot be a familiar I'll die too." Edward felt how his ands became fists again. Now he truly understood that the DarkLord wasn't just a treat to humans but to all other creatures too. "What's going on?" Pixie came flying and nearly collided with Rose. Edward quickly told her. Pixie fluttered about, shining a thoughtful purple. "I must someday return to master Aluard." She finally said. "So if Rose became your familiar I would feel much more safe about you." Edward couldn't help but laugh. He knew ow jelous Pixie could be. He quickly gathered himself as he noticed she began shining an angry red. "If that's settled." Edward quickly asked. "What do you have to tell me?" Pixie fluttered about. "W'll have to wait." She told. "Fir we have to take care of Rose." Edward slightly shook his head. Now that she mensioned it he remembered he didn't know how to bind with a familiar. He knew it had something to do with cards but all he had where the DSS-cards. "I'd hoped you know how to o this things." Edward comfessed. "Sorry master." Rose suddenly moved in. "But if you would care to pick up the card over there I'll obey he who holds it." Edward knelt and began searching among the dead. In the leader's purse Edward finally happened upon a dirty stained old card. "You don't know how to clean it?" He asked the fairies. "It smell terrible." Rose sone a ashamed pink as Pixie began glowing with a reluctant green glow. "The card will be all fine." Pixie finally answered. "If the familiar living inside where to clean itself." Edward fel his cheeks turn slightly red. "I, I see." He then said. "Sorry I said that." Instead of answering his exuse Rose dropped to hide in the snow. Edward knelt to dig her out but Pixie stopped him. "She's ashamed." Pizie told."The boar-man I think didn't care her's or the card's condition as long she did as she was told." She added. "I don't think he asked fo her exuse either." Edward nodded. "I think you're right." He cleaned away some snow to sit down upon one of the rocks. While doing so he still kep a sharp eye toward the road. "The valley reaches all up to the entrance of the mine." Pixie suddenly said. "The entrance is heavily guarded by warg-riders and dead soldiers." Edward nodded. He would have to be clever if he was to find a way to get past them. "The gate is locked with magical doors." Pixie continued. "I heard the band of beast-men leaving didn't like it." Edward muttered "I don't like it either."He could summon all ten creatures of the cabal and then attack with a rain of magical bombs. The only problem would be it most likely would draw the attention of every sorcerer between here and Kyoto. "If there only was an exit with fiever guards." Edward didn't notice he was speaking before Rose landed upon his knee. "Sorry master." She shyly suggested. "But I think I might know another way in." Edward whistled. Either God was with him today r this was another attempt to trap him. Howeverhe had no choice. "Tel me about it." He said.
Jam wasteland, Warakiya. The 20th. of December 2098 A.D.
Although the sun had nearly set heavy clouds blocked it out. It had snowed quite some time. "Curse it!" Edward struggled to find a sfe path within all the loose snow. By each step his boots would sink down to the heels, sometime they sank even deeper. Edward had o struggle for each step. Swet dripped off his forhead and he was breathing heavily. Pixie and Rose fluttered about him and did their best to replenish him. Although the sight was bad Edward could still see the mountains looming to his right. Rose had told them about the entrance into the lower areas of the mine. Finally when Edward thought he could move no longer another valley opened up. To the north the outskirts of the Dora wood and Mortvia river where blocking his path. The shield boxing them all in was not far off. Edward turned away from what lay outside Barnsdall and again began walking eastward. He had sent Pixie to tell Al about that he was about to enter into Barnsdall mine. They had told him all was going well in their end too. Edward saw no reason telling them Saria was gone too. He cracked the chain-whip and also prepard some of his cards before he began walking up the narrow valley. There where fewer trees here. He noticed fewer down-cuts too. Edward felt slightly relaced by that fact. The living dead did as they where told. It was the living or undead followers of Dracula who'd ravaged the countryside elsewhere. The dead where nearly upon him before he saw them. Edward whipped at them nd throw holy water about. He was determined to not use any more magic before he'd entered the mine. The walking corpses where easy foes to defeat. But as Edward continued walking another and of zombies came lurking toward him. Edward knew they would tear him to pieces an eat his flesh if they where to overwhelm him. Edward made them burn with more holy water. "I'm so sorry master." Rose came to fly before him. "I forgot the dead was using this entrance." "Never mind." He made her get out of view as he whipped more zombies to oblivion. He didn't hav time to celebrate. More zombies rouse from the ground and now alsoghosts appeared. Edward didn't care if it'd been a trap or not. These monsters seemed like they would kll him anyway. Edward threw the boomerang-cross and then he axe he'd found inside one of the candles. He then summoned his bloodline power to utilize item-crushes. Numerous axes and crosses flew around and mae them all burn into ashes. Edward took some time to whip down the candles standing about. He thanked God as he ate the potroust which fell from one candle. The crystals might also come in handy and he picked up all he couldfind. Then Edward continued walking. More zombies and ghosts attacked but Edward quickly whipped them into oblivion. Then the entrance into the mine lay before him. Edward did thesign of the cross before entering.

Dabi's path, Warakiya. The 20th. of December 2098 A.D.
Edward couldn't help but scrath his head. The first cave he'd entered looked like some sort of primitive hangar. 13 spider-like machines stood parked on rigid lines to one side of the area. "This is the way we must go." Rose told them while flying toward the rightmost opening. "The other openings leads to the crew-quarter and deeper into Dabi's path." Edward wondered where he'd heard that name before as he followed after the two fairies. Before entering into the new cave however he cracked his whip. As he entered the next cave Edward awed at the vie. This cave was even larger then the first one. Snowflakes fell through a giant opening in the ceiling. "How the heck am I to get across?" He asked the two shining creatures although he already knew the answer. Before him lay an open lake reaching from one side of the cave to the other. "You must use the ice." Rose explained. "Jump across to the other end." Pixie added. Muttering to himself Edward walked over to the balconey which lead to the nearest ice-berg. Edward knew it wasn't going to be easy. What he hadn't expected wasthat the ice began rotating as soon he stepped upon it. The falling snow made it difficult to find the next platform. The faries did their best to lit his path. Then a fishman jumped out of the water and landed before him Edward whipped it into oblivion. Then two more jumped out as they spat fireballs at him. Edward whipped at them before jumpig to the next platform. As he landed another fishman sent a fireball just past him. Edward whipped at it nd then jumped again. Then there came no more fishmen. Not until he reached the fifth platform. Then three fishmen jumed at him from different locations as a fourth fishman spat fireballsat him. Edward used the circling of the ice to avoid the fireballs as the fishmen nearest to him clawed at him. It tore open his coat, jacket and shirt, not to mention his skin. Edward roared and then threw around with holy water. Rose flew about while she threw a mysterious green powder about. While the fishmen where busy Edard jumped further across. Then three more fishmen attacked. This time Edward was prepared and whipped them into oblivion. When finally across Pixie healed him and Ros even repaired his outfit. "Thank you Rose." He told and the fairy blushed. "Beyond this cave is the Barnsdall mine." She fluttered forward to show him. Edward odded. This would be it. He ate some food and then prepared his weapon. Edward also prayed to God to be with him. Ending the prayer with another sign of the cross he put on his hat. Edward cracked his whip and then entered the mine.

Barnsdall mine, Warakiya. The 20th. of December 20987 A.D.
The coffin's lid opened and the white with rouse. The sun had set. Liza Bernhardt smiled. She felt all er supernatural power rise in her. Then she felt a slight disturbance. The Belmont ha entered her domain. Although the white with could not locate his exact location she knew he was here, somewhere. No matter. He was not important. If need b she would kill him herself. What a feather in the hat that would be. Liza Bernhardt shook her head. She had to plot this real carefully. The Dark Lord's followers would soon be here. She would have to keep the Belmont occupied until they arrived. The white with lefther coffin. She walked out of her room. She needed blood. When she had remedied that little detail she would be prepared to ace him.

Saria couldn't help but shudder. Although she knew it was impossible the cell looked to be melted directly out of ice. The only light came from the blue torch out in the corridor The ghostly light was reflected ahundred time in the crystalline ice. It was cold, terribly cold. Saria sung to warm herself. Then she stopped. Although she'd been able to grow a few plants they immediately died of lack of warmth. The ampire's words continued going through her mind over Andover. Saria knew she wasn't te chosen one. Still she wondered dough. So much had happned these last weeks that she almost didn't knew herself anymore. "Oh you great ones." Aria prayed. "Give me clearity so I might knew what is true." There came no answer. Still she felt strength and a little warmth return to her. They had stolen er life tree's amulet. Saria should be dead by now but she wasn't. It worried her. She'd heard if the amulet was to be found by a loved one the dryad in question wouldn't die. She'd never believed in such myths but it seemed she would hae to. Saria knelt to pray some more. If Edward hadher amulet or not, the worshipping gave her strength. It kept away the cold too. If it would keep her alive she would continueto do so whatever else might happen.

Castlevania, Warakiya. The 20th. of December 2098 A.D.
The Dark Lord Dacula walked through the dungeon of his castle. Te moarning voices of prisoners made him feel good. Death walked beside him as did Carmilla. Irronicwas it not? Among all wh pledged fealty to him they where the few he could trust. Dracula would send someone for the boy so e would reach Barnsdall in time. Frost would fill in nicel. The Dark Lord would have smiled if he could. E knew who had the relics Frankenstein had so carefully created. Noail Hua stepped toward him, then knelt. He did not rise before he had passed her. She was not who he wishe to see. He could feel their presence. Gilles De Reis had already left to take up his position. Finally Dracula found Actrise, in the arms of no less than three brave young men. He could feel Carmilla became interested. The witch dismissed the men and knelt before him. It began to snow in the cell and his other servant appeared to kneel before him. "The representative in Barnsdall have approached me." He told them. "Dimitri Blinov aest not to become involved in my affair. Thou arrest to guarantee nothing will happen." "As ou say my lord." They rouse and vanished. The Dark Lord was pleased. It was set in motion. Either way the outcome he would gain profit by it. The Belmont and the girl would have to gotheir own way for some time. He knew their intentions. The Dark Lord also knew of those supplying aid. No mater. He would deal with them all when time was right. When everything was ready he would merely have to wai and see.

(A.N: Really sorry for the late update. My computer had a slight breakdown and I lost a few chapters. I'm working as quickly as possible. Hope you enjoyed the chapter though. Have a nice time.)