Part 1: Quest of the Vampire Killer.

"Away from me Satan! Only God you shall serve and him alone."

Mathew: 4:10

Chapter 39: "Boss fight" Raven's resurrection.
Tower of Ondol, Warakiya. The 22nd. Of December 2098 A.D.
The lord of the tower stood innside the throne room. He was watching out of a window. Far below the Dora wood reached out. The trees all dark against the white snow. The lake was what interested him dough. The mist had cleared. Still the lake was open. The Belmont was more potent than he thought. No matter. In time he would die. It was the girl who was important. Noriko Cruz was the key to everything. She would come. They would all come. He knew as the clan of vampire hunters did, that it was him and his "comrades" which was the real danger. He turned and left his viewpoint. The Christmass was near. He would have to compleate his plot before it was to late. He left the throne room.

Bodley, Uta lake. The 22nd. Of December 2098 A.D.
Zoe couldn't believe what she was seeing. The figure rising from the coffin gave forth an aura of pure evil. From this level it was impossible to get a full view on what it was. Zoe didn't want to see it. Genya Arikado and Owen had their weapons drawn and ready. They knew how important she was to their quest. Zoe craddled the ocarina close to her heart. She was the only who could play the "Minuette of Dawn". But what if Christian or Noriko died? With the loss of any of them the future war would be lost. With her other hand she reached for the Star of David. The Lord would have to protect them.

Bodley, Uta lake. The 22nd. Of December. 2098 A.D.
The skeleton king roused from his ancient grave. "Answer me!" The distant voice roared. "How dare you disturb my resting place!?" "We're intending to lift the curse upon the lake." Noriko answered before Christian could warn her to be silent. "I am Joackim Armster! The lord of this lake! You should never have tresspassed upon my grounds!" The ugly old skeleton roused into the air, flouting there. Then suddenly multiple swords appeared around it. "Die outlanders!" The swords was sent stabbing. Christian whipped his Vampire Killer whip. Noriko threw fireballs as Koji quickly dodged the blades. Christian was thinking as quickly he could. Joackim Armster had been a vampire who fought side by side with Leon Belmont in 1094. Leon had later put him to rest although the chronicles didn't tell where. How was it Leon defeated this former vampire when they first met? Joackim gave him no time to figure it out. A pack of bone-men rised out of the rock itself. It was impossible. Then again, nothing was really impossible when Chaos where involved. "Dragon breath!" Koji breathed heavy flames at their enemy. Joackim had already gathered a shield of yellow light around him. "Find the orbs!" Christian shouted as he was throwing holy water around himself. "That was how Leon Belmont deactivated the shield!" "Do not underestimate my power!" Joackim's skeleton shreeked. The crest of the raven shone dark against the yellow and blue fabrick of his robe. Crisscrossing portals opened around Christian. Blades stabbed through in an effort to capture him in a deathly crossfire. Christian rolled out of reach. Still he nearly happened into one of the portals. As he got to his feet another pack of bone-men where around him. Noriko reappeared, throwing her web to capture the bone-men. "Thank you." She smiled. "We'll handle the orbs." She said as she again vanished among the pillars. Christian ran as the gates again started opening around him. "Die!" Joackim threw another wave of stabbing weapons at him. Christian recognised swords, axes and knives before his holy water made it all vanish. Then the shield faltered. Christian ran toward the armoured skeleton. "Belmont!" Joackim threw a blast of flames at him. Christian whipped it into oblivion. "Leon promised to leave my tomb in peace!" Christian dropped himself to the floor as Joackim again threw flames at him. "I have to lift the curse." He answered. "Then you will be destroyed!" Multiple swords appeared around Joackim, all stabing at Christian. "I don't think so!" Noriko was back. Her black cloak blowing around her like giant wings as she captured the blades innside her webs. Christian threw his boomerang, cutting into the skeleton king's chest. Although the chesp-plate hidden beneath the weapon-robe offered some protection, Christian could feel the pain of the evil spirit. Now Joackim had managed to regenerate the forcefield. "You will die wench for involving yourself in this!" The former vampire treathened. "I don't think so!" Noriko shot back, imitating Christian's words. "Christian! Og for the orbs!" She threw new fireballs as Joackim again opened the crisscrossing portals. "I'll take the brunt of his attacks!" Christian nodded and ran toward the pillars. Koji was there, fighting Joackim's bone-men. "Dragon's breath!" The other boy breathed heavy flames. "There is four orbs in total!" He shouted. "Dragon's tail!" Koji whipped his tail at the bone-men as Christian threw more holy water. "Be mindful about the crimson ones!" Koji shouted as they split path. Christian made the sign of the cross before he too began running.

Bodley, Uta lake. The 22nd. Of December 2098 A.D.
Koji shot the final bone-man into dust. He really did hate necromancy. The crimson-bones had already began to rebuild themselves. "Dragon's breath!" Koji released a breath of something which looked like golden sulphur. It did make the crimson skeletons shatter. Koji gave that one orb they protected a blast of its own before leaving the bloody bones behind. "I'll take the last one." Suddenly Christian was there, whip in hand. "Go and help Noriko. She looks like she could really need it." Koji nodded then he ran out to fight the towering skeleton king. Noriko was blasting away Joackim's swords as quickly she could. Koji brought out his own sword and shield. "Noriko don't stand alone!" He cried as he started hacking away the bone-men moving toward his friend. "Foolish boy!" The terrifying skeleton cried at him. "There is nowhere you can hide! I will find and destroy you!" Koji did his best to keep the voice out of his head as he continued his attack. The shield around Joackim again vanished. "You would not dare!" Joackim shreeked. "Tell me about it." Noriko mummbled. "This one is for me!" Koji couldn't help but smile. While Noriko covered him he moved in for the kill. "No!" Joackim threw flames at him, throwing Koji far back. Hadn't he been a dragon he would've been dead already. Then Christian was there. Throwing his cross he removed the bone-men blocking his way. Then Christian slashed his whip at Joackim. The skeleton king brought up its arms in defence. Flames flashed. Christian had hit home. The former vampire was forced to its knees. Then it was like it gattered itself. He got back up and released a series of stabbing blades outward. Christian barely managed to dodge. Noriko was to far away. Koji screamed as several blades became drilled into him. The pain was intence. Never before had he felt like this. Then Noriko was beside him, forcing him to drink some of her healing potion. Joackim was back. He was trying to trap Christian between his crisscrossing portls. "Go and take out the orbs." Koji told Noriko. "It's my turn to help the Belmonts." Noriko smiled. "Give the bag of bones what he deserve." She said before vanishing. Koji gathered his dragon powers. "Dragon's tail!" With his tail Koji whipped three blades into oblivion. Christian smiled, making the sign of the cross. Then he suddenly became serious. "Watch out!" The warning came a minute to late. One of Joackim's swords hit Koji in the head. Koji was unconsious before reaching the ground. "Time to die." Joackim said, aiming the blade for Koji's heart.

Bodley, Uta lake. The 22nd. Of December 2098 A.D.
Noriko screamed as she saw Koji collapse into a heap. Never was this monster going to kill her friend. Not as longs he was alive. She'd already managed to take out one orb. Noriko thanked Christian's God as Owen ran to pick up Koji. Christian covered them bought by releasing a rain of holy water. It wouldn't harm Joackim dough. Noriko summoned her souls. She released three-way lances at the bone-men. Then she continued searching for the other orbs. The continued harvesting of souls helped her keep her energy high. There was the second. Three crimson-bones shielded the magical entity. She ocupied the bone-men by trapping them with webs. Noriko thanked Christian's God for many things. That she had the Arachene soul for instance. She was sure to get out of the way before the bone-men got free. It didn't seem like they could throw bones, like other skeletons she'd met. Still they could do much harm if she didn't kept them at some distance. The two final orbs quickly became destroyed. Then the crimson-bones reached up to her. Noriko wasn't sure on how she could defeat these monsters. She sent lances at them. It made them shatter. Noriko tried blasting them with fire before they could rebuild. It didn't seem to work. She then continued running. Noriko hoped Christian had used his time to damage the evil spirit. Its power where so strong it really scared her. The king was screaming something. Either Christian had scored a hit or Joackim had… She didn't even want to think about it. She felt how the orbs was lit again. Noriko ran as more bones appeared from the ground. How on earth where they going to defeat this monster?

Bodley, Uta lake. The 22nd. Of December 2098 A.D.
Owen watched the ongoing battle. Things where not going good. Although Christian and Noriko had scored the skeleton king four hits, he didn't seem to weaken. "Noriko really is a powerful fighter." Genya commented. Owen frowned. He wanted to fight. Christian had told them to watch Zoe. From what he knew about her Zoe could take care of herself. "How's things going?" Koji opened his eyes. It looked like Zoe had been right about that too. It took more than a knock in the head to kill someone with dragon blood. "I'm not sure." Zoe told him. "It is half an hour left to sunrise." Arikado informed in his normal icy manner. "Stay put." Koji was back on his feet. Owen almost gaped. Koji ran up the steps like nothing had happen. "I'll tell you something." Zoe told Genya in a rather sarcastic tone. "I think Koji is quite a fighter too." Arikado bowed. Owen shrugged. He'd not doubted any of them. Not that it mattered. As Koji reached the top of the stairs, Christian was able to whip the evil spirit in its face. "Well done!" Owen knew Christian couldn't hear him. It didn't matter either. Then Christian was thrown back by another blast of heavy flames. Owen bit his lips. He felt Zoe reach for her star of David. If the Belmont died…

Bodley, Uta lake. The 22nd. Of December 2098 A.D.
Noriko ran to the fallen Christian's side. Koji was back and was taking the brunt of Joackim's attack. There where still some life left in Christian's body. Thanking his God Noriko made him drink her potion. Christian blinked. "Thank you Noriko. The Lord is with us." "Get up!" Koji shouted. "I can't fight this battle alone." Christian got to his feet, somehow he'd managed to hold onto his whip. "We'll take the orbs." He told Koji. "Go on! Dragon's breath!" Koji breathed sulphure on the bone-men around him. Noriko and Christian vanished among the pillars. The bone-men appeared out of the ground. Noriko wondered if there where a tomb beneath them or if Joackim summoned them directly from the underworld. She concentrated her mind and went for the first orb. She summoned her flame demon soul and sent balls of fire at the crimson-bones. They shattered into piles of bones. Before they could rebuild themselves Noriko sent one fireball at the orb, destroying it. The crimson-bones reached for her neck. Noriko couldn't help but shudder. One crimson-bone had nearly broken her neck before. She trapped it innside a web and then left them all together. She had to cover quite some distance before she found the second orb. One crimson-bone threw itself out from the shadows. It landed on top of her, its hands reaching for her throat. She summoned the soul of the giant ape skeleton and sent the bones flying with a bolt of electricity. It concearned her that the bolt had become dark. She knew the black force, called darkside lightning, was the true nature of the power of Darkness. Noriko threw it aside. She released a three set of lances and the orb shattered. Noriko continued running. The crimson-bones where after her. Then Christian arived, whipping at her presuers. His whip shining with ice. To her surprise Christian managed to slash the red skeletons to dust. "They're not imune to ice!" Christian shouted as he ran past her. "Of course." Noriko said. It had to be, since she had no ice soul in her arsenal. Noriko left the crimson-bones behind after having absorbed their souls. She hoped it would help her. She continued running. Noriko hoped Koji was able to fight Joackim now that they'd destroyed the orbs, again.

Bodley, Uta lake. The 22nd. Of December 2098 A.D.
Koji whipped his tail to knock out the bone-men. "Dragon's breath!" He spat series of blue ice balls. The skeleton blocked with blasts of fire. At least it kept Joackim from regenerating his force field. "Dragon's claws!" Koji threw himself and delivered slashes at their enemy. The skeleton king's light armour protected him somewhat. Joackim threw flames at him, then stabbed him repeatedly. "Dragon's skin!" Koji felt his golden shells reappear to block Joackim's swords. Then Koji delivered his own blow. Joackim staggered backward. Koji gathered his dragon power. "Dragon's breath!" The fire brought Joackim to his knees. "I will not be defeated!" Joackim screamed. Koji was about to tell him to shut up. Then Joackim regenerated his shield, right into his face. Koji was thrown far back. Koji's body was sprawled as the electrical energy ran through his body. Nobody could help him this time. Noriko was busy helping Christian crashing orbs. Then Owen was there. Releasing shots at the bone-men he shielded Koji until he could get back up. "Go and protect Zoe!" Owen shouted. "I'll take your place!" Koji nodded. He wasn't sure why Zoe needed protection. Koji knew Zoe could protect herself. He did as Owen said dough. He avoided some bone-men as he ran down the stairs. Then he gasped. The bone-men didn't leave. Genya met him at the bottom of the stairs. "I think Joackim Armster really hate you." The older man dryly commented. Koji didn't answer. This wasn't the time for joking around. They made up their position around Zoe as the bone-men continued comming. Now the crimson-bones had begun their attack. It was dificult to remain calm. Koji knew there where less then 20 minutes left to sunrise. "Dragon's breath!" He released icicles upon his enemies.

Bodley, Uta lake. The 22nd. Of December 2098 A.D.
Owen began wondering if he'd really done the right thing. There where nothing easy in fighting the skeleton king. Joackim repeatedly tried trapping him between those crisscrossing portals. Blades appeared in an effort to nail him. Owen shot them into oblivion. There where a few candles around. They gave new amunition. Owen knew he couldn't go on like this forever. Not even his grenades could get behind Joackim's shield. "Go for the orbs." Suddenly Christian was there. "Owen! What are you doing here?" Dough surprised the boy still managed to whip away the bones gathering. "Defending Zoe." Owen said. Christian frowned. "It don't change anything." He then said. "Go for the orbs. I'll take the brunt this time." Owen would never say so but he was grateful for the boy's appearance. Christian ran toward the skeleton king He really was coragous. Owen disappeared among the shadows. Only the candles gave forth a little light. "What are you doing here?" Owen rolled his eyes. It was Noriko. "It was Christian who sent me." Noriko shrugged, an impressive gesture with her heavy cloak and all. "Let's go then." She said. "I've already taken out two orbs." Owen nodded. They split up. Owen penetrated deeper into the shadows.

Bodley, Uta lake. The 22nd. Of December 2098 A.D.
It was the moment Christian had waited for. The shield failed around Joackim. The skeleton king was prepared. "Kill him!" Hordes of skeletons appeared out of the ground. Christian threw out his cross, making it split into multiple crosses. That kept them busy for quite some time. Christian then moved for Joackim. The evil spirit sent out multiple blades to kill him. Christian blocked it with a series of flames as he unleashed the item-crush of his crucifix. Joackim was taken aback by his show of force. Christian used the opportunety to throw holy water at the enemy. One vial hit home before Joackim was able to rerise the force field. Christian used his abilety to see beyond the obvious. Thank the Lord. The evil spirit behind the skeleton had grown less presence. It was like Joackim felt his gaze. He gathered himself and sent Christian on the run with repeated stabs of his blades. Portals opened around Christian and new blades stabbed through. Christian dropped himself to the floor and rolled out of reach. Bone-men rised out of the floor. Christian whipped all of them into oblivion. He really began to dislike the skeletons. More of them where already on the move. Christian made holy water rain down upon them. Joackim sent new skeletons his way. Christian whipped the closest into ashes and then threw his dagger. He summoned his bloodline powers and then made it split into multiple blades which completly overrun the enemies. Christian ran as new portals began to open. "Come on." He mummbled. There where only 13 minutes left to sunrise. His friends must've knocked out the orbs again. Joackim rised into the air, releasing flames around himself. It would be near impossible to get to him. New bone-men rised out of the floor. Christian defeated them by throwing his cross. The long battle was beginning to wear him down. Bough body and soul was tiered. Christian could feel it. He gathered himself. Christian knew he hadn't time to be tiered. He grasped his crucifiz and concentrated. He became lifted into the air. Then Christian released the energy. It was a long way down. Christian didn't care. Joackim was hit by the full brunt of his attack. Christian rolled, landing safely on the floor. Somehow Joackim had managed to rerise his shield. Christian made the sign of the cross. Then he began running. This just had to work.

Bodley, Uta lake. The 22nd. Of December. 2098 A.D.
Noriko folded her black cloak around herself. She was surounded by bone-men and crimson-bones. "Be courages." She told herself. Noriko gathered her souls before she calmly began to blast them into oblivion. She had finally found a way to defeat even the red skeletons. She plainly knocked them out and then stole their souls. The practise disgusted her. Noriko knew dough it was the only way to stay alive. Owen reappeared from the shadows, releasing shots at the presuing crimson-bones. "I've destroyed three of the orbs!" He shouted. "There's still one of them back there." Noriko threw more flames to knock down the undead bones. "Thanks." Owen said. "They really began to irrate me." Noriko smiled. "Let's go." They split path. Noriko carefully searched each and every shadow. There where nothing telling when new bone-men would appear. There where the orb at least. A trio of bone-men appeared out of the darkness. The sky had begun to turn grey. A stern warning dawn was approaching. Noriko knocked two bones away. The third took hold of her. Hands as cold as death searched for her neck. She tried summon her souls. The coldness of the dead hand made it almost impossible. Then Owen cut the skull off with his short-sword. "Sorry for the delay." He said in that matter of fact manour which seemed to be his trademark. "I ran into some old friends." Noriko couldn't help but giggle. Owen had a way to loosen up things. "Let's go and help Christian." They left the pillars in time to see Christian defend himself against the stabbing swords of the enemy. "You bastard!" Owen shouted. "You're a real evil one." He fiered a shot right into the chest of Joackim. The skeleton king staggered. The shot seemed to have penetrated his chest-plate. "Foolish pesant." The skeleton king roared. "The valour of a knight is far beyond the mind of a mer soldier of fortune!" It was the first time Noriko had ever seen Owen blush. "I'm a vampire hunter now!" Owen shot back. "I would've sent a stake through your heart if you'd been one." Joackim sent blasts of fire his way. Noriko gathered herself. Before she could release an attack Joackim turned and sent stabbing blades her way. Then Christian was there. He stepped in front of her and made a wall of holy fire rise around them, seemingly only by throwing holy water upon the ground. Then Christian sent his throwing-cross forward. This time he managed to knock away one of the skeleton's arms. Noriko couldn't help remembering about when she lost her own. Joackim shreeked curses at them as portals opened all around them. It looked like Joackim had lost all sence. Instead of regenerating his shield, the skeleton king now concentrated all his force on killing them. Owen then reappeared, throwing grenades about. Noriko didn't understand. Why was he throwing the explosives toward them? Then she figured it. The bone-men and crimson-bones around them where sent flying. Christian made a new circle of fire rise as Joackim opened new portals. Noriko teleported out of reach, releasing three-way lances. Joackim shot them into oblivion with a blast of flame. Then more flames came at her. Noriko continued teleporting. There where only 5 minutes left until dawn. They just had to defeat Joackim before the sun started rising.

Bodley, Uta lake. The 22nd. Of December. 2098 A.D.
Christian looked on with concearn as Noriko teleported and ran to avoid the flames. Joackim had either gone mad or was to angry to really mind about things. The evil spirit beneath or behind the skeleton, Christian wasn't sure which, had nearly become all transparent. Owen released shots from his gun. The skeleton king kept him at bay with repeated stabs of his swords. Bone-men was sent to cover up space. Christian brandished his whip and then threw his cross at them. He threw holy water at Joackim, then he summoned his fire powers. A wave of holy flames hammered down upon the enemy. Joackim screamed. When the smoke cleared Joackim's skeleton was still there. Even dough his weapon-robe where on fire, he was still standing. It was impossible. Christian gasped. Not until now he'd began understanding the devine evil which was at Dracula's disposial. The skeleton king stabbed his blades all around. Owen was knocked down and Noriko was sent running. Christian only got seconds before bone-men appeared around him. He felt how his body grew cold. Only 1 minute left. Christian almost desperately began whipping them out of the way. Genya was at his side. Koji appeared to defend Owen. There where no time left for security. Zoe was there, throwing icicles and lightning bolts around. She was using her staff for a weapon. Christian renewed his efforts. They had to win. They just had to. Only 30 seconds left. Time was running out. He had to do something quick or they would loose.

Bodley, Uta lake. The 22nd. Of December. 2098 A.D.
Zoe drew her sword. She knew they where loosing. The sun would soon rise. All the men, including Noriko, was to involved in battle to do anything. The sky was turning greyer by the second. Zoe suddenly discovered she was clear. The bone-men had withdrawn to make up another strategy. She released shots of electricity and then threw bolts of frost. Zoe knew she was growing more powerful. That didn't mean anything. The enemy, he Christian called Joackim, released swords against her. Zoe gathered her wind magic and threw herself right above them. The doumbfounded skeleton just looked at her. It rised its remaining hand. Fire burned at her as Zoe swung her blade. The metal around Joackim's neck shattered and his skull rolled along the floor. Zoe didn't stop to celebrate. She didn't even stop to watch Joackim's skeleton burn. Instead she ran to the border of the shrine. Silence before sunrise filled the air before Zoe moved the ocarina up to her lips. The sung sounded like all sound in the universe. It was only the sun, Zoe and the music. The soft tones spread all across the lake. At least it felt so. A cold wind began to blow. The green trees below her all began to loose their leaf. From nowhere snow appeared. Zoe couldn't stopped playing even if it meant her life. There was something beyond her which had taken control. The lake below them turned a silver grey. "Good Lord in Heaven!" Christian and her other friends had gathered around her. Still Zoe continued to play. Snow seemed to reach beyond the isle, covering the now frozen lake. Zoe fell to her knees, still she couldn't stop the music. It was like something innside her heart which had been wrong finally healed itself. Then the music stopped. The ocarina fell from her hands. Christian picked it up, making the sign of the cross. "It is finished." He said, a smile appearing upon his face. "Thank the Lord." Koji said in a grateful tone. Noriko actually danced around them in circles. "Thank you." Owen said in a low voice. "Thank you for giving me a new dream." Zoe didn't understand. It was something in his eyes which where diferent. Owen helped her to stand. "I think these belongs to you?" Genya afforded Zoe her sword and cane. "Thank you Genya." Arikado bowed. "Can we go now?" Noriko asked. She was looking at the other side of the lake. "Can we go search for Iori now?" Christian smiled. It was when he smiled Zoe noticed how cute the boy really was. "Of course Noriko." He said. "Sure we can." "Who is Iori?" Genya asked. Noriko told him so as Christian began speaking with Koji. "Listen up." Christian finally said. "In two more days it will be Christmass." Zoe shrugged. It wasn't a holiday in her religion. "Dough some of you aren't Christians the Christmass is a time of peace." Zoe slightly nodded. Although she didn't believed Jesus to be the Mesiah she'd felt the mysterious peace during the Christian celebrations. "For 12 days our powers will be sleeping." Christian continued. "We have two days, less than two days, to prepare for that event." This time his smile didn't reach his eyes. "I don't think any of you want to stay out on the ice. There will be none of Dracula's monsters around but the winter might still kill us." Koji was already working with it. "I can fly us to the forest." He said, changing into his true dragon form. "Can you carry all o fus?" Noriko asked. "Now I can." Koji said in a silent tone. For a moment Zoe thought she saw tears in his eyes. Then he seemed to gather himself. "Get aboard." He said in a cheerful voice. Owen helped her to sit up. Christian helped Noriko up on Koji's back before he, Owen and Genya sat up. "Prepare for lift-off." Koji joked. Zoe closed her grip on his back. Then they where off.

Redrock, Uta lake. The 22nd. Of December. 2098 A.D.
The pixies stood watching down into the lake of lava. The burning liquid looked like it had finally become calm. It was still boiling. But the earth quakes had stopped. Zelda smiled. The dragon and the dark soul had restored balance. "All is silent." Ruby reported as she and Flame landed. "It looks like the children really did it." Flame shook her head. Zelda knew the doubt Flame felt toward Noriko Cruz. Then Gem and Topaz landed. Zelda had sent them to inspect the land above the mountain. "The lake has frozen." Gem said. Topaz nodded. "Snow and everything is back. All seems to be normal." Zelda nodded her head. It was over then. "We must rebuild our tribe." Flame said. The same old Flame. Whenever one thing was over with she jumped onto the next. Zelda smiled somewhat. "We will og in groups of two and two." Gem sugested. "There must still be humans or other tribes living in the countryside." "I leave it in your hands." Zelda said. The others could go. She had to remain and watch over the spirits of the fire temple. It was her plight as the sage of fire. Still she was sorry for not being able to go with them. Zelda hadn't been together with a male for more then 100 years by now. There where other more important things to do. The hunters needed all the help she and the elder tribes could give. The evil one was growing powerful. Zelda knew they had to stand together if they should defeat him.

Dora wood, Warakiya. The 23d. of December 2098 A.D.
Mae Lin sat upon the trunk of a giant tree, her bare legs stretched out before her. The sun was about to set. Mae Lin knew her power would return with dusk. Except for the trunk, the tree's branches and her own tunic all was white. All was silent in the wintery landscape. Mae Lin couldn't supress a sence of lonliness. Mae Lin wondered why it was that way. She had samples of blood upon her belt. She wouldn't have to hunger. So, when it wasn't the lack of blood, then what could it be? It was a waste of time. She knew what it was. Mae Lin hadn't been together with somebody for weeks. She loned for a male to hold her. She had been 13 years old when she "died". The vampire she had invited into her house had been with her that night. He had spent time with her several nights later. When rising from her grave three days later she had first visited her brother. Although she had crushed him, he had refused to be with her. Mae Lin snarled with the mer memory. Christian Belmont had refused her and now she was here. He'd stripped her of everything. Her manor, her power and the ring who served her. Mae Lin's hand went for the handle of her whip. It was a joke. She had decided it would be best to kill Christian Belmont with the same kind of weapon he brandished. She tried to calm herself. It was when the anger got the best of her she lost control. She heard someone comming. Her pointed ear was keener than any human's. She got to her feet and carefully began stalking the forest. In a medow two figures stood talking. Mae Lin withdrew. By the colour of their hooded robes she knew they where followers of count Dracula. That they where meeting out here meant it was important. She shouldn't disturb them. She went the other way. The sun finally set. Mae Lin threw back her dark locks. This was the night before Christmass. She brought out the bow and arrows the warlock lord had given her. She would hunt. She could at least get some fun.

Castlevania, Warakiya. The 13th. Of January 2099 A.D.
They became silent as the Dark Lord entered the labratory. With a gesture Dracula summoned the three scientists working for him. Dr Adolf Kaufman was a short somewhat elderly vampire, wearing thick glasses. Jane Porter was something else dough, a lean women with the golden hair the Dark Lord enjoied when choosing his brides. Dr. Porter he had chosen not for her beauty. She was one of the top scientists of her generation. Olga Von Myringen was not a scientist at all. She was a programer. Dr. Frankenstein had picked them for this task only. They lead the way through the labratory and then into a hidden location. It was guarded by golems and Yeties, some of Dracula's most powerful followers. After a final check point they entered into a circular room. Except for a single pool of light at the centre, the chamber was pitch black. "The others have been safely removed my lord." Dr. Porter reported. "Only the original is left." A thin smile crept across Kaufman's sharpened features. "In case something should go wrong." The Dark Lord nodded. "Leave me." He told them. "Let me be alone until I summon you." They bowed before leaving. Dracula stepped into the pool of light. A single body sized box of glass ocupied the spot. If he could Dracula would have smiled. "It is almost complete." Death appeared at the other side of the box. The Dark Lord did not react. Everything was going as planned. The vampire hunters themselves had gone his errands. There where one final key which had to be turned. One final seal which had to be cracked open. "The scientists will move the final sample." Dracula told his best allay. "Then we will continue with the next step." Death bowed. "As you wish, so shall it be my lord." Dracula laughed.

(A.N: I hope you liked this chapter. This is where I leave the second group. There is only a few chapter left before the epilogue. This series will continue. Merry Christmas.)