Part 2: Legacy of Sorrow.

"Then Jesus was led out into the wilderness, by the spirit, to be tested by the Devil."
Mathew: 4. 1.

Chapter 5: Dungeon.
Tower of art, castle in Barnsdall. The 7th. Of January 2099 A.D.
Black Inviktus stood at the ready. There had been no other reports. Without the sergeant, the New Order would have to relay on computers. Diter Hauser was inspecting what information was at hand. Since they lost contact, all had been complicated. Sting cut short the transmission. "my lady." She gave her salute. The title was fitting. The information had come through. She where in actual command. "We have a contact. Though it is only a fragment." Lasaralin, who had been speaking with Morlin Celebrindal, stepped closer. Her former master had become more servile by this turn of events. "Inform me." She said. Her voice soft as silk. "A group of battle-droids encountered the intruders near the castle center." The cyborg pointed at a small orb-like device she kept installed inside her armour. The warlock acknowledged. "Relay that information to those bestowed with power." Sting gave her salute. "It shall be done, my lady." She took step backward. "My lady." Hauser exclaimed. "Other intruders have infiltrated the castle." She went to stand beside his view-screen. Although it was only a combination of workout instruments, they served their purpose well. "Interesting." She breathed. "They are to be arrested at once." She decreed. They would execute the order.

Castle center, the castle in Barnsdall. The 7th. Of January 2099 A.D.
The giant lizard man was finished. He'd produced more of the sustaining medicine. The liquid would keep him intact. The landmap lay on the table. He'd been right about the matter. The doctor put the liquid into multiple smaller vials. He was certain to put the cork tight in place. He would need every drop of that potion. At least until the next attack. Somehow they where coming less often. That was no guarantee it would keep working. He made good deeds. He would build up his good side. That he would need. Evil would always be a part of mankind. Such was the way of life. The doctor was no philosopher. He should have been. The lizard man put the samples into an old bag. That was one way to carry things around. Even so, he would need more then that. The dr. witnessed what the witch had done. She would not let anyone get through. Not that he would have to go that way. But he was unsure if the medicine would work for such a distance. He went to pick up the landmap. The giant lizard man had been there when Chaos was unleashed over the castle. He looked down at his feet. That was another problem. Blade, Gurkha and Hammer had chained him with silver. Not even in his sane state he could breach such bounderies. Such was the decree of the law.

Heinrich pulled the bolt into position. The door had been open. He saw to that it kept close. Torah was playing with one of her magic balls. Heinrich where unsure if she really should do that. The darkside might notice. "I think it'll hold." He remarked. Torah nodded. Though she didn't seem that interested. She made the ball disappear. "I don't think you should bother." The sorceress preduced her ring-smash. "They always keep up somehow." Heinrich shrugged. She was right, of course. "This way it might be slightly more difficult to get through." Torah muttered something which he didn't quite figure. Heinrich dismissed the matter. He went to have one final look at the door. Perhaps he could put some of the boxes in place. To the right side stood an ancient suit of armour. Heinrich hadn't noticed before. The door seemed secured. He toutched the crucifix. That was the best he could do. The knight suddenly lashed out for him. "Good Lord in Heaven!" He exclaimed. Torah came running forward. The axe knight threw its weapon. Torah was forced backward. Heinrich threw his boomerang-cross. The weapon became a golden tool of destruction. Heinrich whipped. Even the chain-whip had become a bar of gold. His spirit was beaming. "Orbs of sorcery!" Torah dodged the axes. Speaking of which, Heinrich threw them in high arches. Flames where lit on contact. The armour was brought to its knees. Then it suddenly got back up. It came dashing forward while swinging its weapon. Heinrich withdrew while whipping. Torah threw flowers into the air. The explosion finished off the armour. Heinrich picked the crystals. Torah looked up at him. "I have a bad feeling about this." She whispered. "I feel." A cold wind seemed to blow through the basement. "They are here." Torah said in a low voice. Heinrich saw beyond the obvious. "The staircase is haunted." He cracked the whip. "They are here!" Torah was shouting. The ghosts where freezing cold. They seemed to appear out from nowhere. Heinrich flailed with the whip. Torah was in frnt. She slashed her smash. The weapon should've had no real inpact. No matter. Those she cut actually burned. Heinrich faught back. The ghostly appearition might kill him if they toutched. Or perhaps something worse. Heinrich wouldn't let it happened. He threw daggers at them. "Orbs of sorcery!" Torah fired. "Bats are coming in!" She shouted. Heinrich already had noticed. He threw axes about. HE summoned his bloodline power. The whip became an electrical current. He whipped the transparent figures into oblivion. Their mourning voices nearly made him feel pitty on them. That was all he could do. The Lord would make mercy upon their soul. Heinrich made the sign of the cross. Torah had defeated the mammals. Those which survived, fled the area. Heinrich hung up the whip. He would have to inspect the area. Torah was already busy with running through the garbage which occupied the old warehouse. Heinrich dismissed the matter. It wasn't likely she would find anything. A few candles where lit. Heinrich left them behind. They might need them later. Beside, the candles where the only source of light. Torah could use one of those glowing orbs. Heinrich didn't want her to do that. The darkside would be drawn to her power. The other door was open. Another tunnel branched off to the right. Heinrich doubted the rusted door might ever be closed again. He had a look inside. "Dust." He reported when getting back in. "And webbing." He cleaned his hear of webbings. Heinrich hoped the spiders where long gone. He didn't wish to fight Arachene. Torah left the boxes behind. "Nothing important in here either." She commented. Heinrich nodded. He could've told as much. Those old crates could only have interested the lesser forms of life. "I think our best chanse is to go upstairs." Torah said. Heinrich finished cleaning off. "Let's just hope we don't run into the castle hall." Heinrich remarked. Torah held the smash out. "Then let them come." Beyond the bravery, she looked slightly concearned. Heinrich knew. "We have to do something." He stated. Torah nodded. "I know." Her sister was still missing. Heinrich knew Torah worried about her. He did as well. Saria was the key to all which had transpired. "If only Rose was here." She whispered. Heinrich nodded. Although he still was somewhat unsure of the elder people, he knew her feelings. He was just as concearned about Julia. She fought so hard not to secumb to her state. He made the sign of the cross. He might felt more confidiance if Patrick was at their side. Heinrich wondered about the man-beast. Most likely he'd saved the children already. He put the speculations aside as he began climbing. The steps, which where build along the wal, went up through the high chamber. Heinrich felt like climbing up a giant chimney. He put the matter aside. The walkway wasn't very wide. It barely was place enough for bogh of them at the same time. The little sorceress kept her smash ready. Heinrich hung up the whip. He'd instead unsheated his sword. He would need it eventually. Heinrich felt like he was back within the gate tower. At least there where no bone pillars about. They reached the top of the first stairway. A small shelf went toward the next set of steps. Heinrich noticed there was another door up here. The rusted old thing looked like it would smoulder on contact. The armour which stood to the side, suddenly moved. Heinrich made the sign of the cross. He went to fight the armour. Then bats came from above. "Orbs of sorcery!" Torah fired. "Go on!" She shouted. "I'll cover you!" Heinrich had no time. The axe knight threw its weapon. Heinrich summoned his bloodline power. The sword became turned into a liquid resource. The aquatic blade struck the axe aside. "Stronger we are in the name of the Lord!" Heinrich shouted. The axe knight suddenly dashed forward. Heinrich threw the cross. Water was in his blood. The cross twirled overhead. Pillars of clear blue rised in front. The armour was brought to its knees. Heinrich advanced. He retrived his item. Behind Torah was still busy fighting mammals. The armoured foe threw axes. One high, one low. Heinrich let go of the sword. He instead cracked the morning-star whip. The weapon which Christopher Belmont forged for his son, destroyed the projectiles. Heinrich made the sign of the cross. The axes simply burned. Christopher Belmont, who fought against count Dracula in 1577, had been a great alchemist. That was a secret kept by the family. The church wouldn't like to hear about such matters. Perhaps they already knew? The church kept its secrets hidden from the outside world. It was for the best. Heinrich jumped the next set of axes. HE was able to resheat his blade. He brandished the stopwatch. The knight froze in position. Heinrich threw the cross. Bloodline power made it split into tripled burning boomerangs. The enemy was defeated. Heinrich was unsure which should have them. Then he noticed Torah was picking the crystals she claimed from the bats. Heinrich shrugged. He retrived the gemstones. The items replenished his energy. Heinrich had a look on that door. Then he shrugged. There was no point going that way. Who knew? The red knights might be waiting. Torah went in front this time. Heinrich still had the whip ready. Some mammals where still around. Heinrich whipped when getting the opportunity. They might suck his blood. He had to be careful though. There was no fence which secured the passage. Heinrich wasn't scared of hights. No matter. There was no need getting careless. The steps ended. He inspected the area. A small shelf, carved into the side of the wall, led forward. Torah still was in the leed, when the armour attacked. Heinrich wished to help. There was nothing he could do. Not now. Bats where coming in. Heinrich toutched his crucifix. This time he would have to make up the cover. Torah already had noticed. The axe knight was approaching. He threw axes at the little girl. She managed to get underneath. Heinrich was impressed. He threw axes toward the approaching mammals. They burned on contact. Torah was slashing with her ring-smash. The axe knight swung with its weapon. Torah lept backward. Heinrich summoned his bloodline powers. He was risen into the air. The huge flaming cross then burst into flames. The area got cleaned. Torah was throwing garlic about. Her smash couldn't repel the boomerang-like axes. Heinrich stepped forward. Then came a row of bats. They came so close that they almost threw him off balance. Heinrich held through. He kept the whip in bogh hands. The monsters simply got fried on impact. Heinrich claimed all their crystals. Torah delth the enemy a solid slide-kick. How could she manage? Heinrich knew she only bousted a pair of soft shoes. That type which most village girls where using. The bats had arrived. Heinrich used the stopwatch. He then whipped them into oblivion. Heinrich picked the crystals. He then went forward. The armour also was affected by the mystic item. Torah placed a flower in front. She then ran backward. "Get down!" She shouted. "Fire in the hall!" Heinrich threw himself flat. The explosion which followed cleared away the axe knight. Torah picked the crystals. Heinrich made the sign of the cross. He really was impressed. The shelf went around the side of the chamber. They soon came to a turn in the road. Heinrich stepped in front. He would take the lead. Nothing happened. They got around to the right side of the area. There was still another doorway. Heinrich wondered where they led. His line of thoughts got cut short. There was another knight. "Get back!" He told his comrade. The shelf was to short for anything fancy. She gave him a look. Heinrich had no time. The axe knight threw weapons high and low. Heinrich threw daggers. They split in three, and continued to split. He hurled daggers high and low. It cost ceveral crystals. Heinrich didn't mind. The armour was forced on the defensive. Heinrich advanced. HE whipped the axe knight with fierce determination. "Bats!" Torah warned. Heinrich held high his crucifix. The mammals scattered. The axe knight pulled together. It came dashing forward. Heinrich got thrown to the floor. "Orbs of sorcery!" Torah stood tall. She placed herself in front of the crazed armour. She presented the cross. Heinrich knew it would keep the bats away. He got back up. He swung the whip. He burned the next onslought of axes. Torah threw roses into the air. The flowers made the knight explode. The fight was over. Not really. The bats had gathered. Torah picked the crystals while heinrich brandished the whip. Legends told Simon Belmont was the first who put that technique to use. "Orbs of sorcery!" Torah cast more magic. They fought back against the mammals. Finally Heinrich utilized the stopwatch. Torah finished them off with more garlic. "We're vampire hunters." Torah stated. Heinrich nodded. HE smiled. "We are." He stated. They collected the gemstones. Heinrich began climbing up the steps. He scratched his beard. How tall was this place really? The steps ended. He had to turn the way round. A small passage led to the other wall. There was a door not far off. This one didn't look all that disused. Not like those further down. From the ceiling came other bats. "Orbs of sorcery!" Torah fired. Heinrich used the stopwatch. The girl threw garlic. The onion where like grenades in her hands. The armour which stood to the side of the door went into battle. The axe knight threw its weapon. The boomerang-like axes went high and low. Heinrich was able to whip them away. The knight got other in its arsenal. That was part of the magic which where behind the armour. Heinrich threw the boomerang-cross. He flailed with the whip. Torah had began throwing flowers again. The bats kept coming. Heinrich frowned. That wasn't natural. It couldn't be that many inside these quarters. He summoned more power. The cross split in four. Electricity boxed the enemy in place. The whip also had become electrified. The axe knight got brought to its knees. Heinrich threw the dagger forward. The knife split in three. The armur struggled back up. "Orbs of sorcery!" Torah was there. She stood tall with her arms spread out. She was clad in the same poncho and fur-couted Russian cap as when he first saw her. Orbs of homing plasma shot from between her fingertips. The knight was destroyed. Torah smiled. She spread out with one hand. "They're all yours." She teased. Heinrich smirked while shaking his head. She really was clever. The sorceress already had collected those left by the bats. The gemstones replenished his energy. The walls where staring down upon them. There only was the opening to the left. Heinrich carefully opened the door. He entered into a rather elegant location. There was no time. A swarm of bats where approaching. Torah was at his side. He summoned more power. The bats where incoming.

Nigo didn't have much time. The enemy had arrived. She'd taken of her civilian outfit. They wouldn't protect while in battle. Nigo had taken on the shirt. The red and yellow coloures marking her loyalty. The belt hang without the scabbard around her waist. The brown tunic would be better then nothing at all. The armoured plates lay upon one of the armchair. She didn't have the opportunity to bring them on. Nigo had forgotten about the helmet. The shield lay somewhere upon the floor. She had the sword. Nigo still bousted the samdales. Her feet went slim from the ancle, but grew larger at the toes. It was typical of her species. Nigo was determined. Although only 16 yers old, she would keep her aligeance to lord Dracula. Grisp gave her the sheet. Although not very high, he was taller then her. "Gorthour will burn them out with fire." He said while putting a finger on the dragon crest she kept on her hair-band. Nigo looked upon him with large brown eyes. He stepped in front. Why wouldn't he let her through? There was no more time. The fight was over.

Torah slashed the mammals. They where all about. Heinrich had that stern expression which she remembered. Broad sunlight peeked through the high French windows. How could they be active? Torah remembered what they said. "This is cursed land." Thus the vampire still had access to his power while in daylight. That didn't matter. Not now. Torah kept the cross tied around her wrist. The place was cold. But it was a natural chill. There was a fire burning in the heart. The fuel was so fresh it was roaring up the chimney. Torah would've liked things better if the bats would disappear. Heinrich was busy throwing axes. The Belmont warrior made lightning strike. Yoko had been right. "Orbs of sorcery!" Torah shot them into oblivion. Heinrich used his stopwatch. Some mammals froze. Torah threw garlic about. Not even he could trap them all. She threw stakes. The magic made them shine with frost. Why not? They where already frozen. It wasn't funny. Heinrich's whip was on fire. They fought back to back as the flock made an effort to overthrow their position. Torah used the ring-smash. The cross made them burn. She was sweathing. Heinrich made the sign of the cross. He was brandishing his weapon. Torah channelled her magic. The garlic created an enflamed explosion upon the area. Strange though. The magic didn't burn any of the furniture. Torah shrugged. Sometime magic worked like that. It would take out any would-be threat. But leave the exterior untoutched. The blast however took out the last swarm of enemies. Heinrich was picking some crystals. She went to inspect the area. "The place seems empty." She remarked. Heinrich muttered something she didn't quite figure. The rat just looked like he rised out from the floor. Torah had her smash ready. The rat lifted bogh arms. An invicible force threw Torah on her back. The rat man loomed above. There had been people like him in Dabi's path. Heinrich stood behind. He was still. The rat shot forth with that invicible force. Heinrich held the crucifix. Torah tried to struggle back up. No way. Her body was numb. "Stronger we are in the name of the Lord." Heinrich stated. Torah would agree. Her thung would not cooperate. Heinrich stood his ground. "You don't toutch her." The clansman stated. A female fox, a red guard, muttered. She held the sword at the ready. Heinrich cracked the whip. Torah wished she hadn't acted so rudeless. The rat was a magician trained in the dark arts. "Let Nigo leave." The beast said. "Then you might do whatever you want." Nigo shook her head. "Grisp." She said in a stern tone. "No. I won't let you do this." Heinrich frowned. Torah thought he looked concearned. The nubness was slowly fading. "Be quiet." Grisp snapped. Then he put a hand on her boson. "I have to do this." He said in a softer voice. "I care to much about you." Torah was able to move. Heinrich made the sign of the cross. "Who have loved so much, will be forgiven in much." He mumbled. Torah wasn't sure if she agreed. Heinrich belonged to the eastern Orthodox church. He would have to decide. Although she still fell slightly stiffened, she looked for the ring-smash. She'd dropped them when struck by the magic. The Belmont exchanged glances with the pair. Torah noticed he still had the cross and whip handy. The rat's hands shone for a moment with red flame. Nigo had the sword ready. Torah noticed she'd brought her boots back on. She shook her head. That was insignificant. Though she might kick with more force. Torah was able to pull over to her side. The cap lay behind her location. She would have to pick it up. Torah returned her attention to the situation at hand. She would have to get up soon. She tried to move her thung. This time it reacted accordingly. The numbness was about to give way. Torah was glad. She began to charge her power. "To the death then?" Grisp asked. Heinrich made no comment. Instead he pulled back. What was he doing? Suddenly he moved. Heinrich threw out five blobs which encapsulated the duo. "It's open space." Heinrich explained. "But it won't keep them for long." Torah got back up. He really was clever. They said Richter Belmont and Nathan Graves could do things like that. Though she wasn't quite sure. Never mind. "The item-crush isn't perfect.." Heinrich picked the crystals which the bats left behind. "Someday we might meet in actual battle." Torah retrived her items. "Are you ready?" Heinrich asked. Torah nodded. He opened the French window. The fox stared at her with hatred in her eyes. The rat kept his head low. The vampire hunters left them behind. A cold wind met Torah outside.

Thris Malmaiden had led the remains of the squad back upstairs. The intruders where nowhere to be seen. Not that he expected. "If you only had that ring left." Topaz Hernandez remarked. Thris agreed. In the chaos downstairs, he actually lost it. Not that he would speak about the matter. Shim had led the way. Now, when they where back in the castle, the lizard joined its specimen. The stairs which they climbed had ended inside the basement. If he was right, they where just below the castle center. They'd met a few battle-droids. Although they'd recognised his mighter, they kept their post. Thris would make a remark. He could need some help. Jade told him there should be other lizards up here. Griffon had agreed. Only a pitty they didn't knew the exact coordinates. "We have to relay on the efforts we got left." He told the archer. The Brazilian vampire made no coment. They knew it was right. The elf had hoped they would find someone which might help. He where on unknown territory. It'd seemed so simple. It wasn't. Thris toutched his purse.

Tower of science, castle in Barnsdall. The 7th. Of January 2099 A.D.
Joseph Vincent was sining. The Lord was with him. He knew the truth. Nobody should ever tangle with an antique dealer. The vampires where afraid by now. Joseph had honed his skills. He where becoming the gratest undead hunting master of all time. Expecially since he was the one who would slay count Dracula. He held the cross ready. Joseph always carried with him samples of holy water. His hate for the vampires had become a weapon of destruction. Joseph whistled while he climbed the staircase. The mechanism had been switched off. Just because he had pulled the switch downstairs. Sometime they really where just idiots. He smelled the rotting scent of their species. Joseph became silent. He preduced stakes. The devil came falling down. Joseph stamped with the cross. The demon staggered. He didn't expect a master to come along. Although old, Joseph knew his handywork. He impaled the pest with his stakes. The cry of another undead made him turn. Joseph threw his holy water. Flames burned. The vials exploded. The undead got scorched. He removed the head. Joseph then simply kept walking. Nobody would stop him. He was out on a holy crusade.

Castle center, castle in Barnsdall. The 7th. Of January 2099 A.D.
The boy childishly continued playing on his whistle. He beamed. Anger was a pathway to some preshious secrets. But such was not in his mighter. How dared she oppose his will?! He gave her everything. The fairy had refused his wish. The fay might choose her own way in life. He should have been certain to obtain her familiar card. The sorceress must have kept it from him. The spirits might choose, or be forced to. But then nothing might make them submit. The actual result was only that he would have to waste more power in securing the seal on her. So close was he to power. The boy stopped playing his flute. "Why not ask?" He said. Then he smiled. The boy began playing anew. The music did sooth his anger. So wonderful was his mind. The boy had experienced so much. Still his soul was untoutched. He laughed. He was that way himself once. Though that where centuries ago. He looked upon the cage. The tiny fairy still was huddled together. She did not realize. Rose had gained more power then any of her sisters might previde. She was a mother. The forest emerald made it happen. But it would only come into play if she where released from the card.

Heinrich was appaled. The statues where disgustive. "I hope they're not gargoyles." Torah said in a low voice. Heinrich nodded. He'd unsheated his sword. There was another stair leading upward. Heinrich wasn't interested. It just felt nice being outside again. The cold wind didn't change his mind. The gallery went all the way to the large front door. He had an idea it might lead to the main hall. "I'm just glad there is no guards." Torah remarked. Heinrich agreed. He made the sign of the cross. Below the catwalk the garden was shroueded in mist. Heinrich wondered if that place was like the garden forgotten by time. HE dismissed the matter. Torah looked back at the closed window. Nobody was there. Heinrich made the sign of the cross. They better be off. They went past other rooms. Heinrich thought to have a look inside. Torah kept walking. Heinrich dismissed the matter. They eventually reached another flight of stairs. They led down into a small courtyard. Torah carefully went in front. The steps where part of a much larger Baroc portal. Heinrich prepared for battle. Simon Belmont, who fought against the count in 1688, was ambushed by water bubbles when passing the fountain. John Morris and Eric Lecarde, who battled the forces of evil in 1917, also was attacked by blobs. Nothing happened. He made the sign of the cross. The mist was clearing. Heinrich thought the garden might've been beautiful. But that was a long time ago. He never went this deep into the castle. The sun was low in the sky. Not far off was another gate. It must have been raining lately. Ahead was the castle center. Heinrich stepped forward. The grass was dry. It wasn't the curse. The vegetation had simply reacted to the season. Torah didn't comment about the matter anyhow. The weather was getting cold. Her face was growing pailer. Heinrich wondered what it was about. Then he realized. That was the sound of barking dogs. "May the Lord make mercy upon our souls." He whispered. They'd fought the Hellhounds before. No way. Heinrich knew Torah was afraid of those monsters. The little sorceress was afraid of even ordinary hounds. Heinrich guessed they'd been affected by the curse. Patrick's father had been proud of his pets. He went toward the gate. The barking grew louder. "Heinrich." Torah began. "I don't think… " She never ended her statement. When Heinrich opened the gate, a pack of dogs came rushing forward. There where three of them in total. The huge hounds from Hell looked like they'd been German Sheppards. Once upon a time. Now they where mindless murderers. "Stronger we are in the name of the Lord!" Heinrich shouted. He made the sign of the cross. The trio slowly circled their position. Heinrich held his blade high. Torah was pailer still. She tried not to let it show. He remembered about the last time they fought against these monsters. That was in the villa mansion. The dogs advanced. Heinrich threw himself sideways. The hounds where quick. Heinrich presented the cross. The hound got thrown backward. It immediately got back up. They howled their hatred. Toward him, toward everything living. Heinrich felt a sudden dread. The triple-headed hounds really was from the depths of Hell. "Stronger we are in the name of the Lord!" Heinrich shouted. HE grasped the cross. Heinrich was rised into the air. The flaming cross burst into a fury which slaied his enemy. There still where two more of them out there. Torah was kneeling. She kept the dogs away with that strange glowing forcefield. Heinrich wondered if that was part of the backflash magic. No time to worry. The demon dogs lept. Heinrich dropped himself flat on the dead grass. "Orbs of sorcery!" Torah threw her purplish orbs of plasma toward the opponents. One Hellhound caught fire. Heinrich threw tripled axes. They clipped the heads of the burning Hellspawn. The third dog got eyes of fire. Heinrich made the sign of the cross. This was bad. Torah withdrew. He noticed the stare actually made her turn away. Fear was something a person had to deal with alone. Heinrich couldn't tell her what to do. Not when he himself was terrified by the monsters which dwelled inside the castle. Although he found the will to fight, he would eventually have to face his own fears. The third Hellhound suddenly dashed. Heinrich ducked. The triple-headed biting-attack might've inflicted a cursed state. His sword went between its ribs. The demon dog howled. Then it burned into ashes. "May your spirit find the way back to your loved ones." He whispered. Heinrich then made the sign of the cross. "You really don't like this." Torah observed. Heinrich retrived his blade. "I don't." He confessed. "You wouldn't liked it either. Not when these dogs where cute little puppies which you played with before the curse." She looked away. Heinrich picked the crystals. The bell rang. Heinrich frowned. What was going on? The closest windows got torn open. Groups of lizard men came running down. Heinrich entered out into the courtyard. "Orbs of sorcery!" Torah shot her magic spell before entering into close-range battle. Heinrich wished to warn her. It was to late. These monsters where slightly larger then those they met downstairs. They breathed poison mist. Torah ducked. Heinrich was impressed. He'd resheated his blade. Heinrich advanced with his whip in hand. He met the monsters. That beast was armed with a spear and shield. They where trained fighters. Heinrich whipped. The weapon was on fire. His shield burned. Heinrich threw daggers. The trio of knives buried themselves into his flesh. Torah was busy at work. She twirled and span to dodge their poisonous breth. Heinrich met a monster armed with a heavy spiked club. Heinrich whipped the monster into ashes. He picked the crystals. They replenished his energy. Three other lizards ran toward him. Heinrich got his sword out. The sun illuminated the center. Heinrich reached out with his blade. A circle of fire rised on his behest. His bloodline power was boiling. "Stronger we are in the name of the Lord!" Heinrich shouted his war-cry. The surviving monsters retreated. Torah came running down the laun while hurling garlic. Freezing explosions shook the garden. Heinrich shook his head. She really was quite powerful. They shared the crystals. Heinrich unsheated his sword. The mist was clearing up. It really was getting colder. "This is the castle center." He remarked. "It have to be." Torah kept watch if any monsters where approaching. Everything seemed quiet. The area was the size of an English football stadion. Heinrich made the sign of the cross. They really knew how to build in those old days. Torah had a look around. The castle walls loomed high into the sky. There seemed to be no escape. To the right, there was only the wall. Clouds obscured the left side of the castle. Torah still kept looking for the enemies. Still, Heinrich was the first who noticed. "Give us strength." He said. "I know that sound. From the other side there came a motorcycle. The skeleton seemed to enjoy the approach. The bone in the sidecart fired its automated gun. Heinrich lept to the side. Torah went the other way. He ran across the pavement. Heinrich really hoped there was no Cyclops about. That was the last he needed. A giant boulder fell on the ground. Shreeking voices made him look skyward. The harpies where coming in. Heinrich threw axes at them. Lightning struck on contact. His enemies where defeated. The motorcycle exploded. Torah must've been at work. Heinrich made the sign of the cross. There was no time to celebrate. Another bike was already approaching. It got company. The second motorcycle fired at him. Heinrich summoned his power. A circle of crosses blocked the offensive. Heinrich pointed his blade skyward. More lightning struck the courtyard. The motorcycle-skeleton got blasted. Heinrich threw himself flat on the floor. There still where one of them left. Torah suddenly appeared. She released multiple red roses. The flowers created ceveral explosions. Heinrich jumped on top. He brought her to the ground. The skeleton seated within the sidecart almost shot her. He wouldn't allow that to happen. They got back on foot. The motorcycle turned. The skeleton fired. They ducked to either side. Heinrich threw axes about. He made lightning strike. This time it was Torah who pushed him out of the way. The still driving bike, collided against the wall. Sparks made the engine explode. Heinrich inhaled. "That was to close." He muttered. Torah smirked. Then she got serious. The sound of flapping wings told the harpies where about. They dropped boulders. The hunters dodged the assault. Torah threw garlic at them. Heinrich threw the cross. The item spun above. Watery pillars went skyward. The area got cleaned. Heinrich retrived his item. They'd gotten half across the courtyard. An engine started. Right ahead came another motorcycle-skeleton. Heinrich held the cross high in defience. "Stronger we are in the name of the Lord!" He got risen into the air. The bullets went below. Blue crosses spun around his location. Water cleared the area. The bike got thrown through the air. It was knocked to pieces when colliding. "Orbs of sorcery!" Torah was busy fighting harpies. Heinrich was grateful he didn't got hit. Another engine started. There where two of them this time. Heinrich claimed the crystals. He would need their energy. He made a circle of crosses rise in protection. The second bike drove toward his comrade. "Torah!" Heinrich shouted. "Get down!" Torah threw herself on the floor. Heinrich threw knives at them. The tripled enflamed daggers nailed the driver. The second skeleton fired a final round before the bike exploded. Heinrich managed to dodge the offensive. Boulders fell on the ground. He felt the impact. The last biker fired the gun. Heinrich somehow managed to whip the shot away. That wasn't something he would do ever again. He scratched his beard. The motorcycle turned. Heinrich got nailed by feathers. The harpies where still there. One had manage to fetch the sorceress. Heinrich threw a circle of axes. Torah landed back on the pavement. He hoped she didn't got hurt. Torah seemingly bousted no laurels. Heinrich used his own item to heal his damages. The motorcycle-skeleton fired. Heinrich made rock pillars rise in protection. Although they got shot, he survived. Torah nailed the bike with explosive garlic. Heinrich made the sign of the cross. The motorcycle burned. He let her have the crystals. They'd battled all across the courtyard. No, not really. Heinrich frowned. "This is wrong." He muttered. A huge stone wall marked the end of the courtyard. "What is it?" Torah asked. She never had been inside this castle. Not that he'd been either. But Patrick had. He once described the building. "There should be two stairways here." Heinrich explained. "One to the inner quarters. The second to the chapel." Torah frowned. She toutched the cross. "I don't see the watchtower either." Heinrich looked to the right side. "What do you mean?" The little sorceress looked mystified. Heinrich shrugged. "Not that it's important." He remarked. "But at the right side, there should be a watchtower leading up to that end of the castle wall." Torah inspected the wall. There where ceveral huge cracks. "We might tear it down." She became eager. "Carrie Fernandez told of some magical nitro which could break the wall." Heinrich considered her statement. Reinhardt Schneider also wrote about such qualities. Things are never the same. That was true. Their conversation was cut short. A series of growling sounds came from the small building. It looked like some sort of garage. The sound made them bogh retreat. They better. A storm of flames and fireballs burst through the window. The door then was banged open. Heinrich spotted some abandoned motorcycles before Cerberus came dashing forward. He made the sign of the cross. Suddenly there where no more time.

The spell ended. The Belmont clan was not trained magicians. Prisg knew that was no solution. They seemed to be slightly immune to some forms of magic. The kind which affected the soul. Nigo burst into action. She brought on her armour. Grisp felt slightly disappointed. He was interested in that cute little fox. He had been looking forward to spend the night with her. That would have to wait for another time. She put on her helmet. Nigo even had retrived her shield. The fire was burning out. They would have to replenish the fuel eventually. He went toward the cole-box. He placed the black chops within the fireplace. He then put wood ontop before igniting his match. He could have used magic. Grisp dismissed. That would only be a waste of energy. Why use magic when there was other more simpler ways to do things like that. Grisp then pulled his hood down. "What do you intend to do?" He asked his girlfriend. "Sound the alarm." She stated. He shook his head. "They wil not listen." He said. "Standing order is to stay in the castle interiors." Nigo snarled. Though she knew he was right. "We might at least tell those living here." She stated. Grisp lowered his head. "As you say." He stated. That might not be a bad idea after all.

Torah felt chills down her spine. Cerberus came dashing forward. Heinrich was there to meet him. The big black trio-headed hound from Hell threw itself sideways. The dog slowly encircled his position. The Belmont warrior then made a row of crosses appear. Cerberus got thrown backward. It easily got back up. Torah struggled to break out of her reverie. Her fear kept Torah from reacting. Heinrich blocked another round of fireballs. The demon dog came dashing forward. It attacked with a fierce triple-headed biting-attack which might've torn him to pieces. Torah finaly managed to gather. She threw one ring-smash right at its throat. She didn't manage to behead the vile being. Though the razor got stuck in its flesh. Cerberus got berserk. It struggled to pull out the item. A pitty their where no candles out here. Heinrich used the opportunity to whip the dog repeatedly. Somehow their enemy managed to pull free. The ring, boiling with ugly red liquid, fell on the floor. Torah was almost afraid to retrive it. She spoke a simple spell of purification before picking. It was nothing special. Her spell would never have removed a cursed state. It worked. That was the importance about the matter. Torah got thrown to the ground. The Hellhound was standing ontop of her. She hadn't seen it come. The heavy animal pressed her down. All three heads looked down at her. They sniffed her scent. Torah got a hysteric desire to laugh. The dog looked so mystified when doing that. Then the tree heads howled in unison. Heinrich was there. He threw the gold cross. The impact made the beast explode. Still, the battle wasn't over. Cerberus somehow survived. The demon countered with heavy flames. Torah had managed to rol aside. She got up into a ready position. She threw stakes at him. The trio froze on impact. Cerberus howled. This time she heard pain in his voices. Of course. Ice was the perfect weapon against this devil. Heinrich wasn't gifted with such abilities. He made the best of it though. While the demon was still concentrated on repeling her attack, Heinrich threw daggers. They where actually raining. The crisscrossing knives went deep into its flesh. A flash of water splashed about on contact. Torah threw garlic. She collected more frost. A huge chilling explosion rammed the courtyard. Torah inhaled. Cerberus was no more. Heinrich claimed some crystals. But he let her take her share. Torah felt replenished when collecting. Heinrich entered the garage. There where some candles inside. A swarm of bats came from above. Torah ran to his assistance. Heinrich used his stopwatch. Then he released a flurry of crosses. HE didn't need her help. Torah shrugged. He was a Belmont. Although not in name, he was in spirit. She kept guard in case other harpies would come along. Heinrich continued to whip the candles. Torah stepped inside. "There don't seem to be any nitro in here." Heinrich commented. Torah shrugged. "You didn't expect it to be that easy?" Heinrich shrugged. "You never know." Then he actually smiled. "I found something else though." Torah stepped closer. Heinrich showed her something which appeared to be a med-kip. "It where inside one of the candles." He explained. Torah hung up the smash. "Is there anything inside?" She asked. Heinrich opened the box. "Let's see." He said. Torah's smile grew wider. This really was quite a treasure. "The Lord is with us." Heinrich made the sign of the cross. Inside where two green, two blue and three red medicines. "This is wonderful." Torah exclaimed. She really ment it. They shared the potion. "Do you want the last medicine?" He asked. Torah put her arms in front. "Take it yourself." She stated. "I can handle myself." Heinrich shrugged. "Just trying to be friendly." He muttered. He preduced something from within his purse. "I got laurels." HE stated. "I may heal myself of damage." Torah looked on the floor. "I didn't know." She said. Heinrich put a hand on her shoulder. "I know." He stated. She looked up at him. "Did you?" She asked. He smiled, scratching his beard. "Call it a hunch." He stated. Heinrich then got serious. "I want you to have it." He said. "Only just in case." Stil slightly reluctantly, she put the potion into her backpack. No sooner had she done that, when the empty kip disappeared. Although gone, it left them healed and refreshed. Torah shook her head. Heinrich made the sign of the cross. "Strange things happen inside castle Dracula." Torah stated. Heinrich seemed to agree. None of them mention the twist. This place wasn't Castlevania. Together they left the building. Torah was sure to inspect if there was a cellar. None where to be seen. Even the courtyard was silent. No harpy or motorcycle-skeleton was to be seen. The sun was low in the sky. They went back to the gallery. At the other side led steps to yet another wing. Heinrich inspected the place carefully. "This isn't 1852." He stated. "We aren't Reinhardt Schneider or Carrie Fernandez." Torah agreed. She'd preduced the ring-smash. Just in case there would be other lizards about. "But I think you're right." He toutched his crucifix. "We better split up." She said. Heinrich turned to look upon her. Although he didn't say it, Torah was sure he was glad she said those words. "Stay above ground." Heinrich advised. "Stay out of the basement." Before Torah could make a remark, he was off. Torah almost reached her thung at his back. But that would only make his acting legal. She dismissed the matter. Torah would have to inspect each and every room she passed by. There would be a long journey upstairs. Torah climbed the steps. She kept watch on the door to the castle hall. She almost expected an army to appear. Nothing of that happened. She reached the first window. Torah carefully peeked inside. Something dropped from above. Something hot and sticky. Torah drew back. She looked upward. Was the statues actually weeping? That was impossible. Still, Torah hated to admit it, she got a bad feeling about this. Other drops hit the floor.

Thris Malmaiden and his group finally had reached the main corridor. Juri pulled the door aside. The lizards moved in front. The intruders might be in there. The elf unsheated his sword. Topaz had her bow ready. She was the sole surviving archer among them. She was to be protected. Shim and Jade would keep anything from happening. Topaz was worth a fortune. So where matters. "There is nobody here." Griffon, who led the scouts, informed. Thris acknowledged. He put away his weapon. His hand still where on that purse. They'd met no other soldiers. Thris knew the castle center was mostly barren ground. But he never realized it was this bad. The red knights went through. They had reached another warehouse. Thris removed his hand. The hunters had been here. Though it had to be sometime since. "Stand ready." He told the soldiers. Someone was desending. They pulled slightly back through the door. He would be careful. He'd underestimated the Belmont clan for the last time. "Be ready." He repeated the instruction. No need. The fight was at hand.

Clock tower, castle in Barnsdall. The 7th. Of January 2099 A.D.
The dark priest was meditating. He sat cross-legged within his pentagram. They had secured themselves within this locked chamber. Ninjara and her royal knights where standing guard. Ancient Chaos seemed to pulsate throughout the castle's very walls. This was extraordinary. Not to him though. Not to anyone who knew the price. There always was a price to pay. Should he not know that to well? Shaft inhaled. His undead status gave access to many forbidden secrets. That was one of them. Shaft was not ignorant. The Dark Lord sent him to this place. The count wished for him to complete a certain errand. The dark priest would have to wait. Though he was patience. He had achieved much since the last resurrection. The circle of blood should have nothing to do with this rebellion. No matter. Shaft knew they might earn many things through aiding by. The young master believed he was in charge. He could have. But then he wanted nothing but power. He should know this was forbidden. They could be useful. The Dark Lord already had enlisted their services. That was centuries ago. The prince of Darkness only released one of them. Shaft relaxed. So many things could have been different. No matter though. He could still wait.

Castle center, castle in Barnsdall. The 7th. Of January 2099 A.D.
Actrise watched as they left. It was what she had predicted. They knew the legends. She did as well. Had she not been a player in those event? She exposed her fangs. Giles De Reis was involved because of the bloodline. Aaron, because of personal reasons, like herself. Why had the angel of Death involved himself in this affair? Because he was summoned. Whereever count Dracula was, Death was his servant. So where the old saying. It was true. Isabella Von Krohnquist did knew. She where herself, after all, of associated blood. She once again beheld her work. It was magnificent. She would be ready. Oh so she would be ready. This Actrise had prepared. The final test. Even if it should fail. She would earn from it. Actrise had been certain. The Dark Lord bestowed his power. She turned to look upon her servant. Soon it would be time. Torah Fernandez would return. She would walk right into her trap. How ironic it was. The servant, and the conquest. It would all come to her. Only a little time now. Then it would be over and she would gain her price. Actrise laughed.

Heinrich went back toward the window through which they came. He'd gone back the road. Heinrich had been afraid they might be waiting for him. So far, nothing had happened. No red knights had been storming. He'd inspected all the six rooms so far. Heinrich found no nitro. There had been one door within the first room. Heinrich looked to that it was securely closed. The lizards clearly lived in there. They'd made the once elegant chamber into a mess and a garbage heap. Heinrich thought about the mudmen which he'd encountered. They where up here as well. They'd emitted a strange acidic bursts which almost killed him. Heinrich made the sign of the cross. He began to climb the steps. There still where no more bats. At least not out here. The night might change that situation. Heinrich cracked the whip. He reached the next gallery. The Baroc portal went all the way up to the second floor. Heinrich just left the ground floor. There was one room to his left which he hadn't explored. Heinrich finally figured they where part of another tower and not of the castle itself. Not that it mattered. He stepped inside. The room was badly lit. Heinrich had to knock down all the candles which he came across. The sound of leathery wings got him on the alert. The mammals came from above. The ceiling seemed to be inhabited. Heinrich brandished the whip. He fused with flame. That gave all the light he needed. Heinrich presented the cross. The bats circled his position. He used the stopwatch. Then Heinrich released a flurry of crosses. It was a show of force. But it was the quickest way to get rid of those monsters. A flouting skull suddenly flew toward him. "Stronger we are in the name of the Lord!" Heinrich cried. HE whipped the phantom skull into oblivion. He began knocking the candles. He found multiple crystals or other items. Heinrich put the food into his backpack. No nitro. Not here anyway. He wondered what it might look like. It was in a liquid form. That much he knew from school. Heinrich turned to leave. Just then came another skull. Heinrich managed to avoid getting burned. He threw the cross. The phantom skull was defeated. Heinrich acknowledged. He claimed the crystals they left behind. He stepped back out again. Nothing seemed to have happened. He made the sign of the cross. He opened the French window. Inside was another livingroom. The place was rather elegant. Heinrich stepped inside. This time there where no more mammals. He made the sign of the cross. Heinrich scratched his beard. Something didn't feel right. That chewing sound. He'd heard that before. A corpse suddenly landed upon the floor. "Good Lord in Heaven!" He exclaimed. Heinrich cracked the whip. He went to have a closer look. The girl had red hair. She was clad only in a plain white nightgown. "Poor child." He whispered. Two other boddies fell down. Heinrich drew backward. The figures rised. The vampires where undead nightmares. Heinrich felt how his hair was standing on end. He was afraid of their rising. Heinrich stood his ground. He held together. They had to be stamped out with fire. So long he could follow along with Joseph Vincent. They knelt to drain the blood of their victim. Heinrich advanced. They jumped back up. Heinrich's whip was on fire. The room wasn't that large. The undead suddenly leached for him. Heinrich ducked beneath the sweeping claw-slash. Heinrich whipped the devil low. The enemy answered with a sudden combo of punches and kicks. Heinrich continued retreating while avoiding the brunt of his martial arts. Heinrich kept him at bay with a combination of whip-slashes and sword stabs. The nightmare jumped back up. Heinrich saw him crawl along the floor. Suddenly they where bogh back. Heinrich made a circle of crosses rise in protection. The devils pulled off several summersaults to avoid his approach. Heinrich stood his ground. They where approaching. The leftmost demon suddenly approached. He leached out with his fangs exposed. Heinrich was already in motion. He made tripled axes fall down. The vampire avoided the impact. Though he got struck by lightning. Heinrich met his other enemy. He kept sweeping his claws back and forth. Heinrich stamped with the cross. The symbol left a burning image upon his flesh. Heinrich stabbed the blade right through his body. He missed the heart. The demon withdrew. He'd already vanished along the ceiling. The second vampire pulled together. He came forth with a fierce combo of kicks and punches. Heinrich kept backing. Then he threw daggers forward. The raining knives went deep. The undead howled in pain. Heinrich stepped forward. Then he suddenly threw the cross. The devil staggered. Heinrich buried his blade into his chest. Just then, he cradled the whip around the neck. The head got pulled off. Green flames consumed his being. Heinrich got thrown to the floor. The second vampire was afoot. He kicked for the head. Heinrich rolled aside. HE got back up and was able to whip the vilian. The vampire shrieked. Heinrich made the sign of the cross. The undead then came forward with quick successions of sweeping slashes. The undead had dropped its human features. The fangs and claws where extended. The pointed airs and the flaming eyes belonged to the devils of the pit. Heinrich felt disgusted by his approach. Dracula's curse had consumed him. The undead nightmare attacked with a sudden kick. Heinrich got struck backward. The plate and chainmail, which he carried beneath his jacket, saved him from any real bruishes. As he went, Heinrich threw out a flurry of crosses. The vampire got cut to pieces. His body burned with ugly green flames. Heinrich collected the gemstones. There was nothing he could do. "May the Lord make mercy upon their souls." He said, making the sign of the cross. Heinrich would have to knock down all the candles. HE was about to begin when the corpse moved. Heinrich felt real chills down his spine.

Torah Fernandez left the last room behind. She'd reached the first floor. Torah knew there still where six other chambers left to investigate. She went out on the gallery. Crimson drops fel from above. Torah wished she could simply smash the statues. That was no option. The ugly figures where protected from all her arms and magic. The drops soon went together. Torah withdrew from the spill. At least she'd learned as much. The bloodbourn almost caught her downstairs. The memory almost made her throw up. Torah gathered. She didn't have time. The figure just suddenly emerged. The possessed manifestation leached out with its sword in hand. The body and sword was made of nothing but pure blood. The figure was disgustive. She got out of reach. "Orbs of sorcery!" The homing balls of purple plasma shot into her enemy. The Bloodborn collapsed. He would soon reemerge. Torah placed garlic into the blood. The figure exploded. She claimed the crystals. Torah knew the statues would continue weeping. There wasn't much time. Torah went into the nearest room. The place looked like a bedroom. The fireplace was lit with a burning pyre roaring up the chimney. The stove might explain all the clouds which obscured the view outside. The furniture appeared to be from the Renessance period. The place really was elegant. Torah stepped deeper in. There where a few candles inside. Torah preduced the ring-smash. Then she noticed someone was sleeping within the bed. She slowly went closer. Was it Saria? The form might be petite enough. A wail of gold lay on the pillow. Her face was beautiful. The suncoloured eyebrows and dark eyelashes, gave her such a noble character. Torah wondered who she might be. The round cheek and chin still belonged to that of a child. Not that she herself ever had such features. The strange blood advanced her growth. She bent over to have a closer look. Perhaps she carried some sort of neclase or medallion which might reveal her identity. The little nose breathed with such pleasure you might fancy she smelled fresh flowers. The full red lips where slightly parted. She pulled the blanket long enough for her to see. The nightgown had a low cutting. Her neck was a perfect pillar. She carried nothing around that swan neck. Torah felt slightly disappointed. She would turn to knock the candles. Still, there was something about this woman which made her stay. Her eyes opened. For a moment green emaralds stared into polished mahogney. Torah felt strangely appaled. At the same time, she felt more then attracted. The beautiful creature's eyes told of love. Her lips parted, offering her the kiss. "Torah!" Torah staggered. The screaming voice hit her the moment the cross made contact with her creamy skin. That was Saria. Torah was certain. Then the sleaping beauty wavered. She altered and changed. Torah pulled backward. The girl was still beautiful, still dazzling attractive. But it was the gift of Satan. She screamed. That was the hunting-cry of a vampire. The undead lept straight upward. Torah preduced the ring-smash. The female vampire landed in front. "Orbs of sorcery!" Torah managed to blast the swarm of bats which where released from within the vampire. Torah wondered if this was like Simon Belmont felt. Legends told the Dark Lord spat swarms of bats toward him. The female vampire became a coil of mist. Torah dismissed the matter. That where back in 1688. This was now. Torah had to secure her own destiny. The female vampire came crawling along the floor. She suddenly emerged, delivering sweeping slashes. Torah pulled back. She managed to stamp with the cross. The demon howled. The bats flew forward. Torah slashed them into oblivion. Then she made a forward trust. The smash cut through her palms. With disgust, she watched as they healed. The female licked her lips meaningfully. Torah pulled back. She was appaled, terrified. She wasn't like that. She'd had to struggle just to get used to Alicia Schneider. The hypnotic influence of the vampire had already captured her once. Torah promised it never would happen again. There where no lesbians among the dryad species. Torah was mostly human though. She hoped she still was as much. The demoness leapt forward. She sent forth another swarm of bats. Torah threw garlic. She channelled her magic into the onion. The freezing explosion rammed bogh the vampire and her mammals. The flash of blue light almost blinded her objective. Torah shook her head. The female vampire was still alive. The sweeping slash hit across her chest. She threw herself backward. Only the poncho got torn. The female vampire stood just in front. She leached forward. Her fangs extended. Torah felt chills down her spine. She didn't remember if she bousted any purification crystals. Torah still had the crush. She made a double-handed slash just as she approached. Torah missed the heart. She let go of the weapons. The female vampire was able to heal herself. Torah then grasped hold. The golden flash crashed into her body. "Forgive me." For a moment, she where herself. Then the body collapsed into a heap of ashes. Torah inhaled. She hoped her soul would be alright. She knocked the candles. There stil where no nitro. Perhaps she'd been mistaking? Torah refused to let the doubt get the best of her. She claimed the crystals which the vampire left behind. She then left the room. It felt nice being outdoors again. Torah went to inspect the next chamber. Blood dropped from above. Torah got into a defensive posture. "Here we go again." She muttered. The spill had gathered.

He reached the second floor. Heinrich cracked the whip. Still no nitro. No matter. He got plenty of other trouble. The spear guards might kill him. Heinrich threw axes into the air. One actually went home. Heinrich fused with fire. Flames burned the armour. The enemy gathered. It stabbed forward. Heinrich made a back-flip. The demon nearly got him already when stabbing through the floor. Then he'd still been on the level below. Heinrich dismissed the matter. At least there where fewer statues above this place. The spear guard twirled. The spinning might actually repel his dagger. Heinrich got other weapons. He pulled forward while spinning the whip. The chain-whip shone blue with water. The jewel-whip struck the spear guard into oblivion. Just when he'd emerged, Heinrich noticed the stair still was leading upward. He'd decided to inspect this level before climbing to the third floor. So far he'd searched four of the chambers. The monsters where everywhere. Heinrich made the sign of the cross. He went into the fifth chamber. The room seemed to have been ravaged. All furniture and artwork had been torn down. The lizard men seemed to have been waiting for him. They carefully advanced. Then the snake leached. Heinrich barely sidestepped. He whipped the thing away. The reptile burned into ashes. The monster armed with the club, breathed a poison mist. Heinrich got beneath. Then the swordsmen dashed. Heinrich released a combo of whip-slashes while fending with the sword. They seemed surprised by his stamina. Heinrich used the stopwatch. Bogh froze into place. Heinrich threw axes. Lightning struck. They where dead. Heinrich was forced to retreat. There where other serpents in here. The club man still kept breathing. He came forth although more defensive then his comrades. Heinrich made a circle of crosses rise in front. The serpents got burned on contact. The lizard man was able to retreat. Heinrich was on the offensive. HE threw the cross while summoning power. A flurry of crosses defeated the opponent. Heinrich claimed the crystals. He knocked the candles while moving along. Inside one candle, he found a vial of holy water. "Thank you Lord." Heinrich made the sign of the cross. He wasn't as powerful as Edward with that quality. But he knew its worth. He made the sign of the cross. Heinrich stepped outside. There still where two other rooms left to investigate. He was happy there where no more spear guards around. He entered the chamber. The ground was covered with mud. Heinrich cracked the whip. He hoped he might be out before they emerged. The mudmen where already there. They slowly approached. Heinrich whipped the nearest into oblivion. He threw a vial of holy water. The liquid made them burn on impact. Heinrich began whipping the candles. The monsters emitted acid bursts. Heinrich held out his sword. More water went outward. A flooding wave which cleared the mudmen away. Heinrich kept whipping the candles. He found nothing. Nothing important anyway. He claimed the crystals. Mudmen had started to arise. Heinrich whipped them away. He picked the jewels before running out. He was glad to escape. The watchtower room still lay in front. Heinrich hung up the whip. He still had the sword in hand when approaching. He opened up the French window. Still nothing happened. He went inside. The room was rather elegant. Heinrich made the sign of the cross. It seemed like an old study or schoolroom. Complete with a blackboard and globus. Small windows looked out on the castle center. Heinrich wondered if this where the classroom for the many children which occupied the household. He dismissed the matter. He would have to search for the nitro. A cold wind blew through the schoolroom. Heinrich pulled back. He would have to see beyond the obvious. He already knew what awaited. The ghosts might be the children which studied here three years ago. Heinrich's whip became a weapon of gold. The shining whip defeated the haunting children. Heinrich felt pitty on them. The undead must've killed them all. He prayed the Lord would make mercy upon their souls. A coil of mist made manifest behind the teatcher's table. Heinrich spun around. The female vampire leached out with a series of bats. Heinrich never had been in love with the teatcher. The female vampire, a runette, was clad only in a torn white nightgown. Heinrich made the sign of the cross. The very image seemed to repel the mammals. Heinrich let go of his sword. He whipped the enemies into ashes. The female vampire threw herself forward. Heinrich held the whip in bogh hands. Flames lit on impact. The undead howled. Her seeming beauty was gone. The demon which lurked inside, became visible. She was a beast, a monster and a hardened devil. Heinrich stamped with the crucifix. The symbol burned her flesh. The female vampire swept her claws at him. Heinrich grunted. The armour protected his body. Though he felt the impact. The female vampire drew backward while conjuring bats. Heinrich flailed the whip. Then he went down on one knee. The undead smirked. Then Heinrich crashed the vial of holy water. The sonic explosion threw her hard against the floor. Heinrich knew the battle wasn't over. She would heal herself eventually. Heinrich went forward while throwing daggers. They pierced her heart. Heinrich cracked the whip. Her head fell to the ground. Then she burned. Heinrich lowered his head. The green flames consumed her body. He retrived the jewels and his sword. He whipped the remaining candles. There still where no nitro. Heinrich didn't care. HE was just grateful he'd been able to vanquish the evil which dwelled within this chamber. He went back out again. He would have to reach the third floor. Some blood dropped down. Heinrich moved out of the way. The bloodborn gathered. Heinrich threw holy water. The possessed manifestation got burned into oblivion. He knew other bloodborn would appear. He began running. Heinrich was able to get past. Breathing heavily, he reached the stairway. The third floor lay just atop the giant portal. Heinrich began climbing. There came no warning. The harpy was there. He was able to duck beneath the onslought of feathers. He unsheated his sword. The harpy was coming. Heinrich made the sign of the cross.

Torah climbed the final staircase. She'd reached the third floor. There stil was no trace of what they needed. Torah toutched the cross. She just reached the top of the stair when the spear guard stabbed. Torah had met them downstairs. She still was slightly concearned. They where quicker then the axe knights. No matter. She was able to glide underneath. The knight withdrew. Torah threw tripled stakes. The flames burned his armour. Torah smirked. Though it was only a grimace. The spear guard gathered. This time she was forced on the defensive. The armour kept twirling its weapon. The stakes would only be repeled. "Orbs of sorcery!" Torah suddenly stopped retreating. The homing balls of purplish plasma crashed into the armour. The spear guard staggered. Torah threw a wild flower into the air. She was unsure how effective they where against this villain. The rose exploded. The armour missed its weapon. Torah advanced. She wondered what where inside the armour. She never got an answer. The spear guard pulled up its weapon. Torah was able to jump aside. She got around the enemy. The armour turned. "Orbs of sorcery!" Not before Torah had pumped with more plasma. The homing orbs collided against the enemy's arm. Torah threw garlic into the air. The shining explosion was the final payoff. The gold plated armour burned. A distant mouning was heard as the spirit escaped. Torah toutched the cross. She entered the nearest window. This was the first in line of those she got to investigate. The room was empty. A cold wind made the dust waver. Torah felt suddenly afraid. There was no wind. The ghost was so close she felt its chill. Torah cut the ring-smash. She went to knock the candles. There where other appearitions. The transparent figures flouted in the air. Torah only could make out their upper body. Their sad, melancolly faces almost made her weep with sorrow. They where so lonely. Torah knew what she had to do. They would otherwise kill or possess her body. The smash made them dissolve. The ghostly appearitions only left crystals behind. Torah knocked the final candles. There where nothing in there. She claimed the jewels. Another ghost came mourning, through the very wall. Torah threw a stake before leaving the place. Torah was again out on the gallery. She finally could rest for a moment. Again Torah wondered how it was that Saria could contact her. She was sure it was her voice. Though only mental, it warned her of danger. Perhaps she'd awakened? Torah dismissed that possibility. She was sure she would've felt it if that should happen. Her reverie was broken. Harpies where incoming. "Orbs of sorcery!" Torah fired. She'd began disliking them just as much as the mammals. The half-woman/part bird of Greek mythology let go of the boulder. They actually destroyed one of those aweful statues. Torah giggled. She just couldn't help it. She gathered. Torah threw roses or garlic into the air. She got a moment's rest while they gathered. Torah used the opportunity to enter the next chamber. The room was barren. Torah wondered if Patrick's father ever used any of these places for any practical arrangements. She dismissed the matter. Snakes where crawling upon the floor. Torah shuddered. She once saw a horror-movie where girls lay naked among wyrms. Yoko had really been mad at her. That was one of the few times her grandmother went hard on her. Torah pulled together. The snakes where getting closer. This was like fighting Medusa. Torah threw garlic all over the place. She made several flaming or freezing explosions clear the area. No way. One reptile escaped. It bit her wrist. That one without the symbol. Torah screamed. She stamped with the cross. The serpent burned. Torah pulled off the backpack. She had a sip of the green medicine. The potion healed her of the poisoned state. Torah made quick work of the candles. She didn't find the nitro however. Torah went back out. The harpies where waiting for her. Torah pulled back against the wall. They released feathers. Torah threw a rose on the floor. A flaming flash protected from damage. The harpies where closing in. Multiple vials of holy water nailed the enemies. The liquid made them burn. Torah cheered. Heinrich was back.

Thris Malmaiden gave his salute. Grisp returned the favour. "In light of what has happened." The elf said. "I turn over command, to you." The rat priest made a magical gesture, casting a spell. "We have a binding contract then." He lowered his head. Topaz Hernandez stood to the side. She was curious about their new command. They'd almost battled eachother already. Juri stopped it from happening when he recognised the fox. Nigo was a red knight. As much was clear. She originally thought she might be a royal knight. She had the bearing. The Brazilian vampire dismissed the statement. She was eager to know what the rat might decree. Grisp seemed like a seasoned battler. He was a Garoyan rat-priest. Although such folks where superstishious, he at least could heal those wounded. He even had shown where she could find fresh blood. Topaz felt refreshed and energized after the blood sacrifice. They had climbed up into the ground floor. The hunters where not to be seen. Topaz still kept her bow ready. She didn't want to get surprised. The intruders might be anywhere.

Heinrich helped her defeat the harpies. He was just finished investigating the third room when he noticed her state. The villains where determined. Finally the fight was over. At least for the moment. Heinrich was sure there where more of them above. Torah told him about her adventure. He even explained what he'd experienced since they left. So far, they'd found nothing. Although he equipped the holy water, it didn't change anything. "We still have some chambers left to cover." Torah tried to sound uptimistic. Heinrich wasn't that sure. Though she was right. "Let's go." He said, making the sign of the cross. Torah led the way. They entered the third room on her side. Heinrich was ancious for what might be waiting for them. The bedroom was luxurious. He cracked the whip. Torah remained behind. Was she afraid there might be another sleeping beauty? Heinrich put it aside. It wasn't funny. Beside, that was one of his favorite bed-time stories. The bed was empty. Anyhow, the chamber seemed to have been the property of a warrior. A male warrior. His gold plated armour and sword still hung on the wall. A swarm of bats came waving down. "Orbs of sorcery!" Torah suddenly was at his side. She fired magic orbs of homing plasma. "There is to many." Heinrich muttered. Torah opened her mouth. Like if she wanted to say something. But it just kept open. Heinrich turned around. The armor was advancing with a huge sword in hand. "Sword lord!" Torah shouted. Heinrich threw himself sideways just as the huge armour dashed. Heinrich threw holy water. Flames illuminated the sword lord's armour. He didn't seemed deterred. He kept marching forward. Torah was still busy with the bats. Heinrich whipped the armour lord. The weapon had become a jewel whip. The aquatic devotion forced the bulk backward. Then it gathered. The sword lord dashed. Heinrich was forced backward. He threw axes into the air. Lightning struck on contact. The armoured foe was brought down on one knee. Heinrich made the sign of the cross. The battle wasn't over. The armoured lord was soon back on his feet. Heinrich was forced backward while repeatedly whipping. His weapon had become an electrical currents. Finally the armour was forced on the defensive. Heinrich threw the cross. The enemy became boxed in by lightning bolts. The sword lord swung its massive weapon. Then Torah threw tripled white roses into the air. The frozen flash made him blink. The armour collapsed into a heap of golden ashes. A pile of crystals was all which where left behind. He made the sign of the cross. "May the Lord make mercy upon our souls." He praied. Torah nodded. Though they belonged to different churches, they could agree. Torah then quickly swept through the chamber. "No nitro." She finally reported. Heinrich acknowledged. He'd guessed it would be like this. He picked the crystals. "Come on." He said. "There's still one room left to investigate." Torah nodded. She hung up the smash. She'd picked the jewels she found within the candles. Some became items when toutching. Heinrich had noticed before. They went back out on the gallery. The sun didn't seem to have moved. Heinrich shrugged. He felt like he'd been searching through rooms for quite some time. Though he guessed it was only some 20 minutes. He decided to best dismiss the matter. Torah was looking out for harpies. "There they come!" She shouted. Heinrich got the whip ready. The giant boulder might've crushed bogh of them. They managed to dodge. The furious birds came in low. The harpies released multiple feathers. Heinrich brandished the whip. "Orbs of sorcery!" Torah shouted while hurling orbs of purplish plasma. Heinrich summoned more energy. He was protected by two circling electrical crucifixes. The blast shot the advancing foe into oblivion. He claimed the crystals. Another bird had taken Torah on a ride. Heinrich had no choise. HE threw holy water into the air. The harpy was defeated. He managed to capture his comrade. "Thanks." Torah smiled. "I really needed that." He let go. The enemies had become defeated. "There might still be more of them." The sorceress warned. Heinrich trusted her conclusion. "We better hurry." He remarked. Torah nodded. They went for the seventh opening. Heinrich frowned. This place was different. "It's another portal." Torah remarked. Heinrich beheld the construction. "It isn't as large as the one below." The girl nodded. There was a half-circle opening inside. "It seems like a sort of ballconey." Torah explained. Heinrich scratched his beard. "There might be another storie above our location." He looked skyward. To the left and right, his view was blocked by the castle towers. Never mind. Just above, was another huge windows. Heinrich almost could fancy the multiple small squares where looking menacingly down at him.
"I think you're right." Torah hung up the smash. Heinrich recoiled the whip. "Let's continue." He said while unsheating his blade. Torah toutched her cross. Heinrich made the sign of the cross. Then he went across the area. At the other side was the French window they'd been expecting. Torah put her hand upon the glass. Heinrich gestured for her to continue. Torah shrugged. She pulled the door open. She immediately drew back. A swarm of bats came flying out. Heinrich came dashing forward. The girl was already ahead. She bombarded the flock with onion. The garlic caused repeated magical explosions. Heinrich shook his head. The sorceress really was growing powerful. They went inside. The area looked like just another livingroom. Heinrich could understand why people would sit up here. The view was magnificent. They cast long shadows upon the floor. Heinrich looked back. The sun was low in the sky. He turned back. There where two doors leading out of the area. Torah had a peek through the keyhole. Heinrich wondered if that really was fair. No matter. "Don't go out there." Torah remarked while returning from the first door. "Why not?" Heinrich asked. Torah put a finger over her lips. "Because." She said. "I think the main hall is out there." Heinrich made no further questions. The girl had a look through the other doorway. "At least there is no stairway in here." She muttered. Heinrich was about to join her when he suddenly realized. "Get back here." He barked. Torah looked back at him. Though she did as told. Just then, the corpse fell from the ceiling. Torah screamed. Heinrich advanced. The vampires came from difficult angles. Heinrich blocked the initial swipe. Torah stood beside him, ring-smash out and ready. Heinrich had no time. The vampire went in low. Heinrich held the crucifix high in defience. "Stronger we are in the name of the Lord!" He shouted. The undead nightmare hissed. He exposed his fangs. Heinrich stamped. The vampire withdrew. He then suddenly came forth with repeated punches and high kicks. Heinrich made an effort to repel with the cross. He came to fast this time. Heinrich swung the blade. HE cut across the chest. The ragged tunic got cut over. Blood stained the carpet. A swarm of bats came from nowhere. The vampire struck the blade from his grasp. He then came forward. Heinrich stepped backward. The undead kept coming. Heinrich threw the dagger forward. Although he missed the heart, the demon even lost his momentum. Heinrich cracked the whip The undead got hit hard. Heinrich retrived his blade. Then he struck with a combined attack. The sword and whip became enflamed. The mammals got defeated. The vampire jumped high. Heinrich got a momentary breather. Then the devil came down. He attacked from behind. He was able to turn in time. The sword cut through his offensive. Heinrich swung the whip. The head fell on the floor. Still, the corpse refused banishment. It kept sweeping its claws. Heinrich then struck through the heart. The vampire burned. Heinrich inhaled. These monsters where truly terrifying. He made the sign of the cross. Torah was still busy fighting the other vampire. Heinrich was approaching when the female vampire decided to join in. She started the deal with a swarm of bats. Heinrich resheated his sword. He would have to use his sub-weapons. The mammals where almost in range. He met them with multiple vials. The undead had become a coil of mist. She suddenly reappeared in front, advancing further with repeated claw-stabs. Heinrich struck the whip in a crisscross motion right in front. The onslought forced her backward. No matter. The assault was ment for close-up battle. Heinrich was unable to follow. The wicked being smiled. Heinrich looked away. How horrified he was of that smile. He had to hold together. She sent out another swarm of bats before advancing. Heinrich threw axes. Flaming explosions consumed her mammals. He was ready to meet her. The sudden high kick brought him off balance. She snarled. Heinrich kept the crucifix. The electrified crosses got blasted on contact. The female vampire was struck to the ground. Heinrich whipped at her. She became mist. The female vampire then made multiple other bats to appear. A row of garlic signalled that Torah was at his side. She must've defeated the other demon. The female vampire sent the girl some other mammals. Then she came at him with repeated swipes. Heinrich was able to pull off the assault. He sent the throwing-cross. They split into three flaming boomerangs. Another wave of mammals came in defience. Although all three had struck, the battle was far from over. Heinrich whipped the mammals away. Then Torah came from behind. With a dual slash, one ring placed above the other, she clipped bogh the spine and the head. They beheld eachother over her still flaming pyre. Heinrich picked together. "Thanks." He said, placing a hand on her shoulder. "Just thanks." Torah smiled. She then shrugged. Heinrich picked the crystals. "Wich way?" He asked the sorceress. Torah gestured for the rightmost opening. This time he was in the leed. They came into a small room. Heinrich thought it looked like an archive. Books and scrolls made up all four walls. Not really. Just to the left, there was a ladder leading upward. Heinrich was walking toward it when he almost got hit by the book. He looked mystified. "Get down!" Torah shouted. Heinrich did as he was told. Multiple other furniture crashed against the walls. Torah dashed. She cut with the smash. Suddenly the onslaught ended. "The ghost must've been real mad at us." Torah joked. Heinrich shrugged. He made the sign of the cross. He didn't believe they could actually do that. He put the matter aside. Torah already had began climbing the ladder. Heinrich knocked a few candles before leaving. Torah opened the hatch. "Be careful." Heinrich warned. Torah made no comment. He noticed one hand was glowing. "Orbs of sorcery!" The mammals got shot. "Welcome to the atic." She said with a little glee. Heinrich almost laughed. Then he just let it pass. Torah shrugged. "This seems like a lab anyway." She remarked. Heinrich agreed. It was a complete mad doctor's laboratory. Though without the monster. Then again, he could be flexable. Before the furnace, the giant lizard man was making witchcraft. Torah preduced the ring-smash. Heinrich cracked the chain-whip. The creature looked at them. Then he came limping forward. Heinrich made the sign of the cross. This man was big as the gardener. "You're chained!" The sorceress exclaimed. Heinrich noticed. Below the skirts of his white scientist's coat, his leg was coiled with a silver chain. That must be causing the limping. The leg looked bad. Like blood-poisoning or something. Heinrich was no real doctor. "Yes." The lizard man said. Strange, he didn't speak with that ugly lispy accent. "I am chained." He looked upon them with small yellow eyes. Though they where not analien. Heinrich noticed bogh intelligence and compassion. He made the sign of the cross. The man simply stood there. "Who are you?" Torah asked. She still had the smash ready. The lizard folded his hands. "Nobody." He looked down. "Nobody you need to know." He gestured toward the chain. "I am merely a mutated prisoner. As you may see for yourself." This time Torah crossed her arms. Heinrich made no notice. "Release me." The creature pleaded. "I am a man. I only look like this because of the curse. Release me, I'll help you." Torah shook her head. "Don't botter." She told Heinrich. "I don't trust him." He wasn't that sure. Though it was he who disbelieved the other species. "You must." The lizard man said. "You don't know what they've done." Torah still shook her head. Heinrich hung up the whip. "Where is the nitro?" He asked. The lizard man licked its lips. "so you know." The monster all but whispered. "Just let me loose." He said. Heinrich made the sign of the cross. "You don't intend to do this?" Torah asked. Heinrich reached for the holy water. "I trust the legends." He simply stated. Then he doused the chains with holy water. The result wasn't as he expected. The chain was made of real silver. "The brothers of knighthood imprisoned me." The lizard explained. Heinrich nodded. "Torah." He said. "come over here. I need your help." Torah stood her ground. "Come on." He said. "You have to use ice magic if this is going to work." "I don't think you should do this." She repeated. The lizard knelt before her. "Do. Please, listen to me." He said. "I am not who you think I am." Heinrich frowned. What was he meaning by that. "I am not your enemy." The lizard continued. "I don't wish to be your enemy." Torah looked away. She then put the cross on him. Heinrich watched. The symbol toutched him. Though he didn't caught fire. "I will tell you." The lizard whispered. "I want to be good. I want to undo my wicked ways." Torah stepped backward. She came to stand beside him. Heinrich could see she still wasn't sure. Then Torah knelt. She grasped the metal. "Be the will of God." She stated. Heinrich watched as a shining blue glow surrounded her gauntlets. The chain then broke. "It's in Your hands." Torah said. The entire chain then fell together. Torah immediately spun. The giant lizard man still stood in place. His foot was healing. As where the mark of Torah's cross. Heinrich toutched his crucifix. What was going to happen? The lizard then went toward the table. He picked the briefcase. Heinrich thought it almost looked like the one Renon was using. "The magic nitro is within the warehouse beneath the castle hall." The man suddenly said. Heinrich toutched the whip. That wasn't good knews. "You should go through the basement." He pointed down at the ceiling. "Don't use the staircase." He advised. Heinrich assured him they'd never do that. Torah still made no coment. The lizard went toward the cabinet. "She closed the elevator, you know." Heinrich didn't. "Take the Mandragora as well." He obviously had found what he'd been searching for. "Here." He gave Torah something. "This is the fairy ocarina." Heinrich didn't recognize the instrument. Though it seemed like Torah did. "It is a dryad's gift." She said. "A dryad's gift of love." She seemed almost furious. "How did you get it?" The lizard man pulled up a seemingly heavy bag. "It doesn't matter." He said. "Just keep it." He turned to look upon her. "Keep it as a memory of the man I should have been." Heinrich still felt confused. Then again, he didn't knew much about ancient lore. Torah put the instrument, at least he thought it was an instrument, into her purse. The giant lizard had reached the wall. "I have to complete my task." He said. The creature toutched a brick in a certain way. "The order must never be allowed to use them." He toutched the controls. A hidden door moved aside. "I don't think we'll ever meet again." The giant lizard man went through. The door went shut. Torah went to investigate. Heinrich dismissed the matter. He didn't really understand much of the conversation. Heinrich made the sign of the cross. Not all questions had an answer. He went to look out the windows. The view was blocked by those same towers. Heinrich shrugged. He went toward that other huge window. From here, he could see the other side of the courtyard. The sun was to low to shine through this opening. That wasn't important. He still could see. "Torah." He said. "I think you might have a look out here." The girl came to stand beside him. "I think we're in trouble." Heinrich stated. Torah made no comment. Heinrich then cracked the whip.

Torah watched out the front window. They really where in trouble. The red knights where below. Torah recognized those which she fought earlier. Nigo and Grisp had joined in. She toutched the cross. "You stay behind me." Heinrich said. Torah would've made comments. But she knew when he was serious. Heinrich was right anyway. "We could go down the staircase." When peeking through the keyhole, she'd seen a steps leading down. Heinrich shook his head. "You heard what he said." He gestured for where the lizard had been. Torah was unsure if she could really trust him. Although he made no challenge. Torah toutched the purse in which she kept his gift. She would have to inspect it sometime. Not now. "I don't think it led into the hall." She argued. "The space was to narrow." The Belmont shrugged. "Even if it is like that." HE said. "They most likely have the place stashed with battle-droids or other guards." Torah folded her arms. Perhaps he was right. She shrugged. Heinrich looked aside. "Believe me." He said. "I don't like it either. But this it what we must do." Torah nodded. She still would liked to check the other place. But it would be for another time. Heinrich already had began climbing down the ladder. She went through the area one last time. Torah knocked some candles. Not that she found anything of interest. She shrugged. Torah then went downstairs. Heinrich was waiting for her. He slowly opened the door back into the livingroom. "I hope they don't have archers." HE remarked. Torah agreed. This would be a perfect killing-box for any rangers. Torah fought such shooters already. She knew what harm they might inflict. Torah stepped out into the cold. The fireplace was unlit. Strange though. Torah hadn't felt of the cold earlier. Now it was everywhere. It had to be below zero. She dismissed the matter. The villains where waiting. Heinrich went in front. He didn't go directly for the French doorways. Suddenly then he advanced. One arrow shot his way. "Orbs of sorcery!" She released her own ranged attack. Then she followed suit. There where at least 20 left of them. More then enough to kil the hunters. Torah got the ring-smash. Heinrich got his sword in hand. She was met by the lizards. They had swords and clubs. Torah ducked underneath. She slashed through their mid-section. The monster was dead before reaching the floor. "Shim!" Another of them hissed. Torah managed to sidestep his approach. The monster kept attacking. Torah had to work franticly to keep them bogh at bay. The cross toutched his blade. "Jade." The third of them instructed. "Get away from there." It was to late. He already was burning. His curved rapier moved with such speed she almost got overthrown. Torah blocked the scimitar. "Orbs of sorcery!" The blast shot him to pieces. A man clad in brown and red uniform took his place. Torah realized he was an actual living human. She withdrew immediately. "Get away." She told through clenched teeth. "Get away from here." The red knight shook his head. "Die you wench!" He roared. He kept the shield low when attacking. Torah was unable to break through. She stamped with the cross. The symbol had no effect. Not against a human anyway. She managed to block the offensive. Torah wished Heinrich might do this. No matter. The Belmont warrior was surrounded by foxes. Torah almost began weeping. She knew the brothers of knighthood where living men. Human traitors. But this was different. This man didn't belong to the order of shadow. She countered his next assault. "Juri!" A woman shouted. She came to fight beside him. "I'll have her blood." Torah intensified her efforts. The Spaniard was clever. No questions asked. The cross slightly deterred her offensive. Torah smirked. Though it never reached her eyes. She went forward with a sudden glide. Torah was able to get past his guard. The smash went through his stomach. Torah cut the throat when he fell. "May God forgive me of my sins." She made manifest. The vampire snarled. "You killed a good scout." She said. Torah made no coment. She knew they would kill her. She risked a glance sideways. Heinrich was fighting the rat priest. The elf and the foxes where dead or dying. "Let's take her together, Topaz." Nigo suddenly stood at her side. Topaz exposed her fangs. Torah advanced. Nigo had gotten her sword broken. She fought with her shield and dagger. That made things more difficult. Nigo got closer to her. Torah bit together. She'd defeated these folks before. Topaz came in at the side. Her short-edged blade moved so fast. Torah had become a vampire hunter. She moved with the same grace and agility as her ancestors. Yoko would've been proud of her. Torah was surtain. The fight kept going. Rising flames collided against the Spaniard vampire. Heinrich came running forward. His whip was on fire. Topaz got whipped into oblivion. Nigo was alone. Grisp was dead. The fox then let go of her weapons. "So it is." She lowered her head. Torah stepped backward. What where she planning? "I surrender." Nigo went down on her knees. "Do whatever you want." She removed her helmet. "I can do nothing." She stated. Torah returned the gaze. Her will was broken. Heinrich hung up the whip. "Come on." He stated. Torah blinked. Heinrich resheated his sword. "We have to go." The hunter knocked some candles. Torah hadn't noticed before. "Glory be the Father, the Son and to the Holy Ghost." Heinrich made the sign of the cross. He found something which he put into his purse. Torah thought it just looked like another crystal. She could be rong. Nigo lowered her head. Torah hung up the smash. He was right. They got better things to do. Heinrich went for the nearest staircase. It actually was her side of the center. Torah shrugged. She kept watch. Just in case Nigo might do something desperate. They soon left her behind. Torah wasn't quite sure why. But somehow she felt pitty on that poor creature. Everything seemed quiet. The hunters reached the first floor when the harpies attacked. "Orbs of sorcery!" The homing balls made them loose the boulder. The rock never the less crashed against the building. Heinrich threw something into the air. Torah thought it might be that crystal. Heinrich closed his fist. Then the hovering jewel simply exploded. The dispanding blast consumed the enemies. "They'll be back." He told. "We don't have time." Torah gathered. She'd been impressed by the show of force. That he hadn't done before. Torah put the matter aside. He was right. The harpies would not let them go without a fight. She went down the staircase. Torah noticed they where outside the room in which they first met Nigo and co. Flapping wings told of their approach. Torah looked skyward. Heinrich threw boulders at them. The grass below the walkway was white with frost. She didn't care. Torah dodged their boulder. "Orbs of sorcery!" Blood dropped from above. Heinrich drew backward. There still where other harpies. Torah threw garlic into the air. The freezing explosion cleared the sky. Heinrich whipped the bloodborn into oblivion. "come on!" He shouted. "She'll continue weeping!" Torah shuddered. She knew they would. She got beyond the crying statue. A boulder hit the area. Heinrich made the sign of the cross. He was lifted into the air. The flaming cross cleared the area. Torah let him have the crystals. She almost got hit. The sorceress was grateful they didn't make lightning strike. Legends told harpies might do that. Heinrich climbed down into the garden. Then he stopped. Torah looked at the huge portal in front. "I don't think we should go through that way." Torah said. Heinrich nodded. "I think… " He didn't finish his statement. "What is it?" Torah asked. Heinrich went toward the courtyard. "I don't know." He said. "But I think I saw something." Still unsure, Torah went with him. There where no further skeletons out here. Torah looked skyward, worried that other harpies might attack. Then she stopped. She heard the sound of an approaching horse. "Then I saw a bleak horse." Heinrich whispered. "The name of he who sat upon, was Death." Torah grasped the symbol. He made the sign of the cross. There was another figure going before the angel. Torah recognised the woman from within the villa's rose garden. Now though, she was clad in a suit of armour. "Go." Heinrich said. "Go back down into the cellar." He cracked the whip. "Find what we need." Torah nodded. She hated herself for the weakness. But Uriel frightened her more then any other villain she'd ever met. She didn't face him within Dabi's path. Now she simply turned and ran. She risked one final look. Heinrich was going forth into battle. In that moment, Torah admired him more then she could ever tell. This was what made his family different from all other hunters. Heinrich bloodline was blessed by God Himself. Now she was certain. Then she just kept on running. This was between Death and the Belmont clan.

Clock tower, castle in Barnsdall. The 7th. Of January 2099 A.D.
Witani Worubu stood leaning against the wall. The tight-fitting leather suit had the same colour as her skin. She'd been a soldier of fortune all her life. Nalla Babou had been a NATo marine before the Master. Witani exposed her fangs. People might take her for just any prostitute. She was not. Beside the whip, and her shock-lance, even her boots where equipped with concealed weaponry. She put a black leather glove upon her belt. Her dark-blue body-armour gave more protection then most. "Why is it taking so long." She muttered. Her breth became turned into smoke when speaking. She changed hold on the lance. Robin Corham had offered them a ride. She'd hired out for his group. Why not? He needed fresh blood. Witani smirked. She kept a reserve hidden within her belt. Blood was an important issue for any vampire. They came here to gain supplies. The bounty hunters had certain laverages. Robin took Nalla with him. He let her and Raglian back to guard the ship. Although they got permission, it was no reason to trust the millits. They always where jelous. Witani whistled. She got a glimpse of her comrade. He would always conceal himself. No matter. He got abilities value to the group. She kept herself ready.

Castle center, castle in Barnsdall. The 7th. Of January 2099 A.D.
Nigo finally was able to gather. She'd expected to be dead by now. The hunters killed all her comrades. Even Grisp was slaughtered. He who was a priest. Nigo dryed away tears. "Forgive me." She told her loved one. Though she knew he couldn't hear her words. "I wasn't strong enough." She picked Thris Malmaiden's sword. "But I will avenge you." That she was certain. That was all Nigo could consentrate about. Somehow she would make them pay for what they'd done. Nigo swore an oat of blood. She spilled the quality upon the floor. "You did summon my name." A figure appeared before her. Nigo gasped. She hadn't expected this to happen. "Yes, my Master." She finally was able to speak. The horned appearition held forth bogh his hands. "You are the Devil's purchase." He was so cold. So cold. "The death of millions would be a glorious business opportunity." The Devil was clad in a plain black suit. "Then we have a binding conntract." The Master preduced a sheet of paper, and a simple feather pensil. She signed the contract with her own blood. "It is finished then." How was it possible that he could be here? There where legends told. He had many loopholes.

Heinrich Schneider went into battle. Then he stopped. Heinrich made the sign of the cross. He barely recognised her features. But he did. That was why he sent the girl away. "You kept your promise." Heinrich said in a soft voice. He didn't know what to feel. "You should have left this place." Julia stated in a mournful tone. "Now, all is over." Heinrich kept his whip ready. "You are not strong enough." The whisper was the voice of the grim reaper. Heinrich toutched his crucifix. "I do what the Lord tells me." He was no paladin. Heinrich knew he didn't have to. Leon's promise, and Sonia's oat, was more then enough. The blessing of his bloodline, was enough. Heinrich didn't ask for more. Heinrich was at peace. "Then I will test your effort." Death decleared. Julia looked sad. "Do you intend to kill lord Dracula?" She asked. Heinrich toutched the whip. "Such is my destiny." He said. Julia looked down at her blade. "Then so it is." She whispered. Heinrich was unsure what to make of it. Then Julia looked at him. "All threats to count Dracula, is a threat to the vampire." She lifted her sword. "Death come to you all." Julia then said. Her eyes red with flame. Heinrich made the sign of the cross. "Only in the way the Lord wishes it." He walked the mysterious ways. But as much, he was certain. "We shall see." Uriel breathed. "You know what you must do." Julia exposed her fangs. "You just throw away your life!" She snarled. "My Master!" Julia shrieked. She lept into the air. Heinrich felt like his heart was torn out. She had secumbed to her state. He fought back his sorrow. Julia came dashing forth. She spat out a stream of fireballs. Heinrich moved. HE threw holy water. Then the fireballs homed onto him. He blinked. She really was clever. He whipped them away. That he couldn't do with any weaker form of this weapon. Julia was in front. She lept with her fangs exposed. He presented the cross. She snarled. But then slashed her blade. Heinrich performed a back-flip. Julia reached out with her left hand. A sonic blast almost stunned him in place. Heinrich made the sign of the cross. He knew what might happen if she got through. Torah was in motion. She forced him to run in circles. Heinrich whipped the fireballs. She continued shooting. Heinrich threw the crystal. He caused repeated explosions. Julia was sent far backward. She released a sonic blast. Heinrich threw himself sideways. This wasn't good. All the while, the grim reaper sat on his horse, watching the battle. Julia shot other fireballs. Heinrich wondered if she where using some sort of shield magic. They said Alucard was an expert with such matters. Julia came for him while shooting fireballs. Heinrich noticed they would explode on impact. Not even the laurels might save him if that happened. She slashed with her sword. Heinrich barely ducked. He whipped her before Julia leached. Her fangs where exposed. Heinrich shuddered. This wasn't how it where supposed to be. He presented the crucifix. His cross burned her skin. Julia shrieked. Heinrich felt pitty with her. It was such a lonesome, mournfull sound. She slashed with her claws. Heinrich sidestepped. Julia was back in the air. She shot fireballs at him. The flames exploded on contact. Heinrich was forced on the defensive. She really was quite powerful. Heinrich knew what had to be done. Although he didn't wish to do it. Julia shot another sonic blast. The waving onslaught might've stunned him in place. Heinrich threw the axe. Flaming explosions ripped through the area as they went home. Somehow Julia had dodged the whole objective. Heinrich tightened the grip on the chain-whip. He ran. Julia shot fireballs. She was wear him down. Heinrich figured by now. Julia was clever. That much he already realized. She appeared in front. She slashed with the sword. Heinrich brought bogh hands up in protection. The blade cut through his body. Heinrich bit together. The laurels healed his damages. The effect was incredible. Julia was about to bite him. Heinrich broke out of the reverie. Her eyes where blazing red. Heinrich snarled. This couldn't be her own choise. "Glory be the Father, the Son and to the Holy Ghost!" Heinrich shouted. His whip was shining with gold. He whipped her repeatedly. Julia gave a quick answer. Although the first strikes went home, she blocked the rest with a swarm of bats. Heinrich staggered backward. This he didn't expect. Julia was a dark-breed. Or was she? No time. Julia came speeding toward him. Bats circled her approach while she shot out other fireballs. They where homing in on him. Heinrich whipped them away while running. This was getting out of hand. She sent the mammals dashing forward. The circle of crosses blocked their objective. Julia shot sonic blasts. Heinrich was struck to the ground. For a moment he felt all numb. Julia flouted in the air. She summoned other bats. Heinrich still got the crucifix. He summoned more energy. Then he was lifted into the air. The flaming cross burst. The area got cleaned. Julia became a coil of mist. Heinrich got time to gather. The vampire who he cared so much about, reappeared. She spat homing fireballs. Heinrich whipped the first series before running. She went in presuit, still throwing fireballs. Heinrich threw a flurry of crosses. Julia got hit. More importantly though, the fireballs got blocked. Julia got back into the air. Heinrich knew he'd missed the heart. The armour gave a slight protection against his bloodline mystics. She sent out a wave of mammals. Heinrich crashed a vial of holy water. Frost was spread outward. The bats got frozen over. Heinrich made the sign of the cross. Julia came dashing forward while spitting fireballs. Heinrich whipped the flames away. Though he was unsure how long he could keep up with her. She didn't seemed weary at all. The sword suddenly came swooping for him. Heinrich got the sword out. He met her in closer hand-to-hand combat. His second hand leached out. Julia screamed. Heinrich had fused the whip with electric energy. She answered with other bats. Heinrich got forced backward by mere numbers. The electrical whip moved with all the speed he could muster. If only he'd been gifted with wind. No time for such matters. Julia retrived her blade. Heinrich felt the electricity fade. He would have to do an effort to retrive it. Julia came dashing forward. Her armour shining with spilled blood. Even her eyes where gleaming. Death beheld everything. Heinrich whipped away the fireballs. He jumped. Julia exposed her fangs. A ful-circle of shining axes where released upon the battlefield. Julia got struck to the ground. Heinrich ran forward. She released another swarm of mammals. Heinrich used the stopwatch. He then released a flurry of crosses. The bats burned into ashes. Julia rised into the air. She came forth with series of explosive fireballs. Heinrich ran. She chased after him, forcing Heinrich to move in circles. He made the crystal explode. Julia blocked with other bats. Heinrich was able to heal himself of damage. Julia was ahead. She slashed her sword. Heinrich dropped the whip. He barely got the blade out in time. She changed objective. The blade stabbed for his heart. Heinrich made his own sword burn with flame. The sudden counterforce struck the weapon from her hands. She summoned a swarm of bats. Heinrich pressed through with his crucifix held high. He stamped her, making flames burn the armour. Julia screamed. She just screamed and screamed, like she could never stop. When it was over, the armour lay in shambles. Only Julia remained. Death could not change expression. Though Heinrich got a feeling he was not amused. Heinrich retrived his arm. He didn't want to do this. Heinrich knew he got no choise. He knelt beside her. Julia opened her eyes. They where grey anew. He couldn't help but toutch her blonde hair. His other hand held the crucifix. Heinrich was prepared to stamp her out with flame. Such was the remedy of her status. "Go on." She whispered. "Set me free." He made no motion. "Why do you not kill me?" Heinrich didn't answer. "Is it so that the vampire killer cannot bring himself to slay a woman, or a child?" He didn't know what to say. "I don't hate you." He then said. "But I'll do whatever it takes to defeat the prince of Darkness." "Then you are determined." She said. Heinrich looked away. "I do what I must." He returned her gaze. "You will defeat him." She breathed. "I never made this choise." Suddenly Heinrich was furious. "You could've made your own choise." HE almost shouted. "The dark-breed, like those with the blood of the tall elves, might choose their own way in life." Her eyes grew wide with sudden shock. Heinrich made no mind. He had to do this. Suddenly she struck him aside. "You never told me!" She shot back. Somehow she where again clad in that yellow Victorian outfit. Heinrich blinked. "I thought you knew." He said. "Patrick do." Julia shook her head. Then the fallen angel threw his sickles, forcing them apart. "Do not listen to him." Death rasped. "You are of his folks. You are a vampire." Julia shook her head. "Listen to the voices of the dark side." The angel dictated. "Susan bit me." She whispered. "She made me drink of her blood. You made me think I was like her." Heinrich took a step forward. "Susan is dead." HE said. "Patrick fought her in the villa mansion." Julia toutched her features. "You should have been released from the curse. If it was true." He added. Suddenly Julia turned. Heinrich thought he saw tears on her face. Before he could follow. She'd disappeared among the shadow. Another set of sickles struck the ground in front. "You really are determined." Death said, repeating her words. Heinrich dashed. With the whip in hand, he was ready to battle even the angel of Death. "No." The fallen angel seemed less solid. "This is not the time." Heinrich watched as the angel of Death and his horse bogh faded away. "Not here. Not now." He made the sign of the cross. He'd waisted so much energy. And it all was in wain. No, not in wain. He picked himself together. Julia had become released from Dracula's curse. Or had she? Heinrich shook his head. He felt confused. He stood quiet for a moment. Then he decided what to do. Torah had gone to see what she may find. The giant lizard man told them to go through the basement. Heinrich turned. There where not many options. He better join up with his partner. Heinrich went back through the garden. Something was going on. More then where to be seen. Heinrich promised he would reveal what was hidden. Blood dropped from above. Heinrich pulled backward. The bloodborn soon emerged. The possessed manifestation then swung at him. Heinrich whipped the thing into oblivion. Not really. He knew others would rise from the spilled liquid. He went behind that area. Heinrich knew he would have to climb back down if he where to do any good. A sudden boulder struck the ground. The harpies where coming in. Heinrich went into battle. This would have to end.

Torah hung up the smash. Things seemed rather quiet. She shrugged. Yoko warned her to not expect anything within the halls of castle Dracula. Then again, this wasn't Castlevania. She toutched the cross. Torah had fought other bats and axe knights when climbing back down. She looked upon the door which Heinrich had closed. She refused to go back there. Torah would rather get captured then return to the mine. She shook it off. There where other exits further up. Torah decided to go all the way down. That door was open. Torah frowned. It'd been closed before. She was almost certain. Torah then shrugged. Whatever the case, she had to get moving. Heinrich told her to fetch the nitro. Torah still wasn't sure about the matter. She didn't like the giant lizard man. The door led into another narrow corridor. Torah pulled out the ring-smash. She better be prepared. Anything might be hiding down here. Torah smiled. Though it never reached her eyes. This place wasn't like the other underground locations. Not any which she'd explored anyway. The muddy ground and dank atmosphere mostly reminded about Ravenberg. She shed the matter. The sound of flapping wings made her snap to attention. Other openings branched off in bogh directions. Through one such opening, came a swarm of bats. That tunnel went deeper into the mountain. Torah didn't go that way. She threw garlic into the air. Torah channelled her magic. Sheer frost blasted them into oblivion. She toutched the cross. The ground got muddier. Other bats appeared. They came from above. Torah threw roses at them. There seemed to be a hole in the floor. The ground was covered with mud. Torah kept her ground. She didn't liked the look of that area. "Orbs of sorcery!" The surviving mammals still circled her position. Torah slightly withdrew. She needed more space to manouver. "Orbs of sorcery!" Torah cast more magic. "Orbs of sorcery!" The homing plasma shot them all down. Torah was about to jump the marshpit when the mudman reached for her. Torah screamed. She just couldn't help it. The being was composed of mud, dead vegetation and the rotting remains of human flesh. Torah was disgusted by the mere sight. Strange, it didn't feel as bad when being upstairs. Torah struggled to put her feelings aside. She cut through the bizzar composure. The mudman collapsed into a heap. Another had appeared. The monster emitted an acid burst. Torah threw herself sideways. She already was changed enough, but thank you very much. Torah smirked. Although it really wasn't that funny. The stakes struck it down. "Orbs of sorcery!" The homing balls spread out. The bats where kept at bay. The third mudman got shot. Torah jumped. She left the place behind before other might appear. She hadn't come far, when someone whistled. Mathilda told her some men still whistled for girls. That wasn't nice. Anyway, she wasn't adult. The lizard man came running forward. Torah met him. The smash cut through his midsections. Then she realized. The monster hadn't tried to be rude at all. Instead, he'd signalled for the other members of his gang. Torah released multiple flowers. The explosion covered her assault. She suddenly seemed to be among them. "Orbs of sorcery!" Torah threw her giant spinning ball right into the chest of the spearman. The club almost smashed her skull. Torah ducked beneath. The stakes ended his misery. Torah lept. The smash went out in dual attacks. Torah landed just as the headless corpses collapsed. "Orbs of sorcery!" Torah made a complete circle. The bats where defeated. Torah glide forward. The smash dug deep into his body. Their scalled armour couldn't withstand the weapon of Carrie Fernandez. Torah threw flowers into the air. The red and white wild roses exploded on contact. Torah blocked the lizard swordsman. She stamped with the cross. The symbol made the monster burn into ashes. Torah was grateful no rangers where about. The battle was over. She picked the crystals. Torah let be the candles. They where the only source of light. No matter they might be scarse. She would still need them. When clear, Torah kept walking. The corridor led onward. Torah noticed this part of the basement had been constructed by mankind. No matter. She was a human. Torah hoped as much. "Orbs of sorcery!" The bats kept chasing her. Torah threw more garlic. She hated those pests. Torah picked the crystals. Some became items when toutching. Torah felt sick. There was another mudpit. Just as she noticed, the mudmen arrived. Torah cut them down before they might emit more acid. She threw garlic into the pit. That kept them long enough for her to get above. Torah ran to escape the area. She didn't want to have anything to do with those devils. They where disgustive and ugly. "Orbs of sorcery!" Torah threw homing balls toward the bats. Other mammals had arrived. They came through the other openings. The sound of running feet made her gather. Another pack of lizard monster discovered her location. This time, they got archers in line. Arrows went through the air. "Orbs of sorcery!" The orbs of purplish plasma circled her body before going outward. Torah used the momentum to dash into battle. A row of garlic disrupted the first line. Torah cut with the ring-smash. The cross made flames burn on impact. Torah created a flaming flash. She channelled the magic through the wild roses. Torah threw herself backward. The spearman was approaching. Torah threw more garlic. The freezing explosion seemed to clear most of the area. The lizards fired another round. Torah was to close. She smashed their bow before going forth. The stakes made them collapse. The battle was over before it really could begin. Torah inhaled. She drew sweath from her forhead. This really wasn't easy. They got so close to killing her. Torah toutched the cross. He would guide her. Torah was certain. She smiled. Head up! The bats where not through yet. Torah threw stakes at them. The freezing icicles had an impact. Torah claimed the crystals. She would need their help. "Stand where you are!" Someone shouted. "Hand over your weapons." The squad of battle-droids came marching forward. Torah had no choise. She went into battle. They fired their blasters. Torah managed to duck underneath. The cross somewhat deflected the hellstorm. Laserfire was everywhere. Torah was pressed against the wall. The candles got knocked. Torah was rammed by crystals. She reached out. The money bags seemed to become re-directed into her purse. Torah tightened the grip on the rosary. A bright flash threw her against the wall. Torah shook her head. The battle-droids had become defeated. Some candles actually survived. Torah was grateful. The rosary wasn't an item within the protestant church. Never mind. The thing saved her life. Torah put the matter aside. She still hadn't found the nitro. Torah preduced the ring-smash. She went forward. Though she was more careful this time. The bats didn't make things less difficult. "Orbs of sorcery!" Torah had to fire repeatedly. She picked what crystals and money they left behind. Strange she hadn't found the bags before. No matter. This way she didn't have to waist crystals when trading with Renon. The marshpit blocked her way. She stepped backward. The mudmen appeared. Torah ducked. The bizzar creature emitted an acid burst. Torah got back up. The smash defeated the monster. She even disposed off the next in line. Torah then put a wild flower into the mud. The rose kept them occupied until she could get above. Moss and underground vegetation covered the wall. Torah thought of burning the plantlife. They might be mutated, like in Ravenberg. Torah shrugged. She didn't support of all greeneries there where. She dismissed the matter. Torah got other trouble. Another band of lizard men came storming for her location. Torah moved into a defensive posture. Arrows flew through the air. The first in line spew poison mist. "Orbs of sorcery!" Torah gathered all the strength she could muster. The giant spinning orb shot from between her fingertips. Torah screamed. The sheer might was almost unbearable. The massive force collided against the monsters initial group. Torah used the momentum to dash forward. The archers where still able to fire another round. Torah threw herself flat on the floor. The enemies where all around. Torah jumped. Two monsters fell without the head. Torah knew she'd become poisoned. That would have to wait. She threw garlic all over the place. The shining explosions blinded her sight. Torah brought off the backpack. It was now or never. She managed to take a sip. The green medicine restored her status. Torah put the bag back on. The archers fired. The lizards pressed forward. Torah threw stakes at them. The demon froze on impact. She stamped with the cross. One monster reached for her. Torah grasped with a flaming hold. He got burned on contact. Torah threw roses into the air. She channelled more magic force. A flaming flash was the result of her struggle. Torah shook it off. The use of magic was wearing her down. Torah was tired. She didn't knew how long she could keep up. The smash cut through his armour. The cross made the club burn. Torah leached out with a freezing grasp. The garlic exploded. Finally she got through to the rangers. They let loose a final row before running. Torah spun around. A final bunch of monsters came forward. Torah dashed into battle. "Orbs of sorcery!" The homing plasma protected her approach. The magic exploded on impact. Torah threw stakes toward the mammals. They kept their distance. Torah ducked beneath the swordsman. He breathed poison mist. She managed to dodge. Torah stamped with the cross. HE was ashes. Torah tightened the grip on her weapons. She made a gliding assault. She got beneath his defences. The smash cut through his stomach. Torah got back up. "Orbs of sorcery!" The orbs went home. The battle was over. Torah nearly collapsed. She was able to colect the money and crystals they'd left behind. Torah had a breather. This wasn't easy. The wicked would've killed her. Torah closed her eyes. She then began walking. Torah wondered if Heinrich was still alive. Nobody could escape the grim reaper. Not in the long run anyway. Only fools where willing to pay the price. Torah would place it into the hands of God. Some bats still fluttered about. Torah kept track of their mobility. She knew what they might do to her. She shrugged. Torah guessed she should've get used to it. Fighting evil underground wasn't among her habits. Never the less, she was of the Belnades linage. That ment she got traditions to uphold and promises to keep. Yoko and Mathilda had tried to teatch her that lession. Now Torah began to figure. She was tied to the war against Dracula. Just like the Belmont clan. Torah toutched the cross. She stopped. Other bats came swarming down. Torah stamped with the symbol. The shining explosion threw her to the ground. The blast reduced the mammals into money bags and crystals. Torah collected. She reached into her purse. Gold and silver coins filled her hands. Torah almost gasped. Then she gathered. Mathilda warned her about the gold stolen from Castlevania. "They are from a dragon's treasure." The witch explained. "The Dark Lord stole from the ancient which he had slain." Torah shuddered. Yoko had been strict about that matter. After Ravenberg, she agreed. Only those with the right could inherit a dragon's treasure without harm. There still where some bats abroad. Torah would have them to go away. She was about to channel magic, when she reached the marshpit. Mudmen rised the moment she approached. Torah pulled back. The acid burst might deliver a painful death. Torah knew some fanatics would punish their girlfriends with thrown acid. It was a horrible crime. Unorganized Chaos. That was what Mathilda would've called it. No matter. Torah attacked with the ring-smash. She stamped with the cross. Some mammals used the opportunity to land on her body. They got crisped on impact. Strange though, but Torah felt no heat. She threw stakes into the mudmen. They where so grotesque. Flames burned on impact. Torah cut the successor. This was worse then fighting Medusa heads. Then again, she could be flexable. She ducked beneath the onslaught. The smash then ended its misery. She threw garlic into the mud. That would keep them busy long enough for her to get beyond. Torah lept. She might walk across. Torah looked down at her shoes. They already had been stained. "Orbs of sorcery!" The mammals got shot. She picked the items. Torah muttered. Then she reached into her backpack. Torah still had the contract. "How may I be of service?" Renon appeared, tipping his hat. Torah took a few steps backward. "Could you give me some of those purification crystals?" She hoped they might still be in store. Torah also hoped they where real and not some legend. "I might give two for 1000." He offered. "I'm not quite sure how much I have." Torah reached into her purse. "A hundred of those gold coins will be more then enough, my lady." Torah counted. She frowned. She still had more money left. "The halls of castle Dracula are truly wonderful." The salesman remarked. Torah would liked to ask him about that. But he already handed her the goods. "Anything more?" He kindly asked. Torah shook her head. She better not use to much money. The gold was dangerous. That was a clear warning. "Glad that I may have been of service." Renon tipped his hat. Then he vanished. Torah put the crystals into another purse. He was so strange. Any adult was for that matter. Torah dismissed. She should've asked him about the nitro. Who knew? He might've sold her that quality. The sound of flapping wings brought her out of the reverie. Torah slashed with the smash. She threw garlic into the air. It wasn't enough. Arrows came flying in. Torah dashed forward. She didn't knew if this was the same group, or if it was another. Anyway, it didn't matter. They brought along other monsters. Torah put down a single white rose. The freezing flash covered up her offensive. She rushed into combat. The smash went through their defences. "Orbs of sorcery!" The purplish plasma chased off the mammals. She threw herself sideways while the smash was still out. The monsters got hurt. More importantly, the club missed her skull. Torah spun. The sweeping slash cleared the area. Torah threw more garlic. The flaming explosion made them waver. Torah lept. Two monsters fell without the head. She threw stakes about while retreating. The spearmen went forward. "Orbs of sorcery!" The sudden magic caught them off guard. Torah threw tripled roses. Although not magical, the explosions tore them apart. Torah felt sick about the matter. No way. This was what she had to do. They would do terrible things to her before handing her over to the vampires. Torah shuddered. They might give her to Actrise. She put together. The rangers where still firing. Bats where all about. Torah threw garlic about the place. She charged with magic. The solid frost broke their moral. Those which survived, fled the area. Torah reached for the cross. She'd been right then. The rangers wasn't like the other monsters. They where smaller and less aggressive. She shrugged. Though she still wondered how it could be. Some mammals still stalked her approach. Torah made no mind. There might be other problems ahead. She kept track of their mobility. The mammals where a real threat all by themselves. As if to prove it, she reached another mudpit. Torah approached. She slashed them into submission. "Orbs of sorcery!" The bats used the opportunity to fly for her neck. Torah shot them away. The mudman emitted an acid burst. Torah threw herself sideways. The stake made the manifestation collapse. Torah threw flowers into the pit. She had to get away. "Orbs of sorcery!" She shot another round toward the mammals before leaping. She just got above, when the mudman approached. She cut it down. Then she ran. They couldn't really leave the pit behind. She would be save when only… Torah almost ran into the door. She managed to stop in time. She was breathing heavily. That was to close. She toutched the cross. She used the red key the giant lizard man gave her. Had he known that she would reach the basement first? Torah dismissed the matter. It wasn't important. Then she opened and stepped inside.

Niram beheld himself within the mirror. The black cape, with the high collard and wide sleeves, where really decorative. He would have to be representative. His scimitar hung at the side, promoting the royal shash. Not that he really was a warrior or soldier. Rather, he was a wizard who trained with the sword. He let his hand toutch the shining red and white stones which decorated the hilt. He made a salute. Although other had released Chaos, he had been sent as speaker for his tribe and species. He kept his pose. Niram had his chestplate polished and shining. The young master disliked the red knights. He would send them away. He had his standing order. Something moved. He could see nothing within the mirror. So much better. He would have to hone his skills. He turned. The lit candles shone upon the black and gold embroideries which covered the front of his red velvet coat. The scimitar beheaded the vampire. The body staggered. His left hand released a stabbing flame straight through the heart of the female vampire. The first wasn't dead already. Niram twirled. The attire, with white lacework at the neck and sleeve, might make him look like an idiot. He was not. Electricity favoured the moment. Anger and Aguni gave him all the power he would need.

Heinrich made the whip become a flaming tool of destruction. The harpy flew right skyward. He made the sign of the cross. Sometime the show might be enough. Heinrich picked the crystals. Some had began leaving behind money bags. He wondered how that might be possible. "Be the will of the Lord." Some questions where without answers. Not any he could understand. Heinrich went through the French window. This was the chamber in which they met the pair in love. He shook his head. Heinrich felt somehow sorry about them. They had chosen to serve count Dracula. He went into the basement. The candles where still lit. Heinrich used the stopwatch. The swarm of bats froze in place. He brandished the whip. He would have to reach the basement. Heinrich still tried to remember the details about Reinhardt Schneider and the magical nitro. Somehow he was sure there was a hunch. The axe knight made him forget. The possessed suit of armour threw its weapons forward. Heinrich was able to whip the axe aside. He jumped the next set. The knight advanced. Heinrich threw holy water. Flames burned on contact. The axe knight staggered. Heinrich whipped the opponent. Somehow it gathered. Other axes flew through the air. Heinrich summoned more power. Water came to his aid. The jewel-whip destroyed the objective. Heinrich threw his cross. The armour got struck. Heinrich followed. The aqua weapon reduced the enemy into a heap of golden ash. He picked the crystals. Then Heinrich went for the cellar door. There where other further down. Heinrich would take this passage. Somehow he just knew Torah could need his aid. Why was it like that? The little sorceress was more then capable to take care of herself. Heinrich stepped inside. The corridor was dimly lit. He could still make out his journey. Heinrich made the sign of the cross. He then cracked the whip. Although it wasn't really the Vampire Killer, he hoped to be worth recollecting. A swarm of bats approached from multiple directions. The stopwatch froze the flock in motion. Heinrich brandished the whip. The armour suddenly decided to join in the battle. The enemy twirled its lance. Heinrich stepped backward. He threw tripled daggers. The spear guard repeled the sub-weapons. Heinrich withdrew even further. He threw holy water. The impact made flames burn. The armour staggered. Heinrich whipped repeatedly. The spear guard stabbed. Heinrich barely sidestepped. The surviving mammals came in sudden waves. Heinrich smashed a vial of holy water. An acid wave went outward. The bats and armour got washed away. Heinrich fell to his knees. His boddy still hadn't grown quite used to such a show of power. Heinrich got back up. He got work to do. Heinrich picked the crystals and money. The bottle of holy water hung at his belt. Strange how it could reproduce itself. Heinrich shook his head. Such was matters within the halls of Dracula's castle. That was the strange thing. This wasn't Castlevania. Heinrich couldn't help but pounder the question over and over. He stopped. Heinrich recognized that chewing sound. "Help me." Heinrich whispered. "Give me strength." He made the sign of the cross. A corpse then fell down. Heinrich almost yelped. He never got used to such things. The undead nightmares came down. They bit into the dead woman. Heinrich watched with horror and disgust as they drained her blood. Then they suddenly lept for his location. Heinrich made the crystal explode. The repeated blast threw one monster to the ground. Heinrich met the second face to face. The whip met the two-handed claw-swipe. The undead was drooling. Heinrich made the sign of the cross. Dracula's curse had crushed him. This brainless being had once been a man. Now it was all gone. All which where left, was eternal bloodthirst. Heinrich threw the cross. The symbol spun above while watery pillars threw the thing skyhigh. Heinrich threw the axe. The other vampire got struck by lightning. Never the less, he advanced with a sweeping strike. Heinrich presented the cross. The vampire jumped. The second took its place. Heinrich was ready. The whip was on fire. He got struck twice before retreating. Heinrich went in presuit. He swung the whip. The head got struck off its shoulders. Heinrich plunged the blade into his undead heart. Then he got kicked to the floor. The vampire was still among the living undead. Heinrich rolled aside as the monster slashed its claws. He got lifted into the air. The poison crosses made even the devil to stagger. Heinrich was back down. The whip struck him down. Heinrich threw his dagger. The weapon split in three. The vampire was released from the spell. Heinrich collected what items they left behind. He hoped the Lord would still make mercy upon their souls. He recoiled the whip. Heinrich was about to leave when the corpse emerged. He felt chills down his spine. The redhead woman was clad only in a torn white nightgown. She opened her eyes. They burned brighter then even her hair. Heinrich made the sign of the cross. "We are all God's madmen." He echoed the words of Abraham Van Helsing. They did seem appropriate. She spread her arms. The dress really was revealing. Her full red lips opened. "Come to me, my darling man." She said with that voluptious crispy voice which reminded of water glasses played on by a cunning hand. "My arms are hungering for you." She stepped forward. "Come." She beconed. "We might rest together. "Away from me!" Heinrich shouted, holding forth his tiny gold crucifix. "Away from me Satan!" Heinrich felt how something powerful guided his motion. "Stronger we are in the name of the Lord!" He shouted the cry of the past Belmont linage. The female vampire became all grey with anger. Her eyes blazed with that Hellish anger Jonathan Harker had described. She came at him with sudden swipes. A wave of bats fortold her approach. Heinrich doused the swarm with holy water. He met the lady with repeated whip-strokes. She got hit. But then the demon leached for his eyes. Heinrich staggered backward. "Toutch me." The female tempted. "Kiss me." The torn neck of the nightgown revealed the shape of her breasts. Heinrich moved away from her, disgusted and appaled by her behaviour. "Jesus Christ!" He said through clenched teeth. "The good Shepard shelter us from evil. May the Lord hold the Light high so that we may find the way home." She hit him. The female tried to grab hold. Tried to bite him. Heinrich stamped with the cross. Her flesh burned beneath his symbol. Another swarm of bats protected her retreat. She became mist and vanished. Heinrich threw axes. The move kept the bats busy. The female vampire put her arms around him. Heinrich shivered. She was so cold. Her arms kept the strength of 20 men. She tried to squeeze the life out of him. She made an effort to burry her fangs into his neck. Heinrich gave a headbut which made her release her hold. Though only for a second. He struck the chain-whip right into her. She screamed like a forsaken soul in Hell. She then struck him down. Heinrich landed on the side. The air got struck straight out of his lungs. She landed ontop. "Do not resist." She whispered. "You desire me." She licked her lips. "You know you want me." Christopher Belmont once had been tempted by the dark side. That was in 1577. No matter. He was able to resist. Heinrich knew he could to. The memory of Julia's sad expression gave him the strength he needed. "Only the Lord you shall worship, and Him alone." The words where like a talisman protecting from the darkness. Bogh that from outside, and from that within. Carmilla had been wrong. Although all living had a nightside. Such was the fruit of sins. She went for his neck. Heinrich struck with the crucifix. She got knocked off of him. Flames burned on his marking. "Glory be the Father, the Son and to the Holy Ghost!" Heinrich threw his boomerang. The flurry of crosses released her from Dracula's curse. He made the sign of the cross. She left behind a great sum. Heinrich had no mind about that. He was happy for the last look of relief which had crossed her features. All had not been in wain. Heinrich gathered himself. All which his family had done, had been worth doing. Although they couldn't defeat the prince of Darkness. They could, and had, released those souls which then where in danger. Heinrich finished collecting items. He let be the candles. They where the only source of light. There was another. But that where within the heart of his heart. Heinrich made the sign of the cross. The corridor never seem to change. The cold stone wall was the same. Ever so often would another tunnel branch off from his direction. No matter. Heinrich knew where he had to go. The warehouse was beneath the castle hall. The basement lay beneath the castle center. He would have to work inward to reach the area which he was searching for. Heinrich kept watch. He'd cracked the whip. The bats came in a sudden wave. He used the stopwatch. The holy water then settled the matter. Heinrich was going forth when the serpent leached onto him. The giant reptile swung itself around his body. Heinrich managed to hold around its neck. That was the only way to keep it from plunging its teeth into him. The snake hissed and spat. Heinrich managed to keep it at bay. No matter. It would soon crush his ribs anyway. Heinrich then suddenly bent forward. The snake got taken aback. The crucifix burned it to ashes. Heinrich claimed what items it left behind. That had been too close. He made the sign of the cross. The gesture seemed to have angered the sword lord. The huge gold-plated armour swung with its sword. Heinrich barely dodged. The massive blade might've cut him in half. The sword lord came marching forward. Heinrich withdrew while whipping. The chain-whip seemed to have some impact. Though it wasn't enough. Then the armour dashed forward. Heinrich was pressed backward. He released a flurry of crosses. The sword lord was forced down on one knee. He got back up. Heinrich got the crystal in hand. He made a crystal fall which made lightning shield his position. The show of force made him stagger. The sword lord dashed forward. Heinrich tightened the grip around the gemstone. A circle of crystals fell down. The shining force settled the matter once and for all. Heinrich almost went along. He was down on his knees. Heinrich was breathing heavily while trying to stand up. He leaned against the wall. "Heinrich." Someone was calling. Heinrich staggered forward. He heard them giggle. It was such a pleasant sound. Heinrich shook his head. Something was wrong. "Come to us, Heinrich." Three little figures sat upon the box. The niche was filled with goods. Heinrich would have nothing of it. There was plenty of space for him to sit on. The three little girls giggled when he sat down. What was happening? He reached for the crucifix. Then she removed her wail. Her beauty was unquestionable. The olive skin and big black eyes could set a man's blood afire. Her dazzling face was framed by the heavy locks of dark brown hair. She smelled so sweet. Heinrich almost was taken aback. A white tunic, with rich embrodiereis of red and yellow silk, was all which concealed her. The baggy trousers where of the same colour and fabric. Heinrich gasped. He felt like drowning. The second girl revealed herself. A little African beauty. That was the impression. An image rised within his mind. The image of someone he met within the underground tunnel. He toutched her black locks. They where so soft. Deep black pearls returned his gaze. Heinrich tried to speak. Tried to think. This wasn't right. Mist seemed to blur his vision. The third girl stood in front. "Stay with us." She pleaded. "Don't leave us." She revealed herself. Heinrich felt his mouth dried. She was so delishiously voluptious. So dazzling seductive that he could only stare. She was dark. As dark as could be. Unlike the second, she carried no west or trousers in black cloth. She was clad only in a sort of wail which concealed her privaties. Heinrich blinked. The woman reached out her hands before dancing. She was so attractive. Like a dancing serpent. Suddenly Heinrich was back on foot, whip in hand. "In the name of Jesus of Nazareth!" He made the sign of the cross. "I call you back into light and cast you back into Hell!" The illusion wavered and disappeared. They where who they where. But they where no longer dressed like Arabian slave-girls. Heinrich held tight his ancestor's whip. That was an insult to their culture as well as one aimed at his gender. "Not all men are like that." HE growled. Heinrich flailed the weapon. They where gone. The female vampires became mist. Heinrich blinked. Why wouldn't they fight? His line of thought got disturbed. It was snowing! Indoors and underground. This was madness. Then he remembered. Some could come like whirling snowflakes. The female vampire attacked with sudden swipes. Heinrich ducked. HE doused her with holy water. The demon was on fire. Heinrich staggered. She leached for him. He made the crystal explode. The undead nightmare burned into ashes. Heinrich turned. The coil of mist reformed. The black woman delivered a crushing strike. Heinrich held his cross. Flames where lit on contact. The demon was taken aback. They where not very old. They still had not developed the power of their fallen Dark Lord. Heinrich swung with the whip. The ancient weapon left bruishes on her silky dark skin. Heinrich threw the cross. Her head fell on the ground. Heinrich swallowed. He struck the heart. The soul was released. Heinrich made the sign of the cross. The Indian dancer was still among the living undead. She attacked. This woman really had become powerful. Heinrich wondered if she might be responsible. The moment they gave the baphtize to another person, their soul was truly lost. Heinrich could not accept such fate. He threw holy water at the approaching flock. The undead girl came for him with repeated swipes. Heinrich made a back-flip. She came crawling along the floor while conjuring bats. Heinrich crashed a vial of holy water. A powerful blue flame became spread outward. The blast engulfed bogh the female vampire and her mammals. She reappeared. Striken and baffled. Heinrich stepped forward. She swept out with her claws. Heinrich threw axes. Her body got torn to pieces. Heinrich looked away. The battle was always bloody and wile. Her soul might still be saved. Or so he hoped. Heinrich picked what money and crystals they left behind. He had a closer look into that niche. Among the wares and crates, he found their coffins. Six of them at least. Heinrich reached into his pocket. He put a piece of the holy Wafer into each. Heinrich then made the sign of the cross. Although ordinated by a Catholic priest, the Host was holy to him. Heinrich went back out into the corridor. He used the stopwatch. The wave of bats got frozen in place. Heinrich was able to whip the serpent. The huge green reptile burst into flames. Heinrich threw holy water. The bats also burned. Heinrich picked crystals and money. Strange how he could carry as much. Never mind. He went for the other door. The spear guard would denay him access. Heinrich pulled backward. The spear guard stabbed its weapon forward. What's inside the armour? Who knew? Heinrich threw his dagger forward. The armour repeled his attempt. Heinrich was able to retrive it. The armour stabbed. Heinrich was forced backward. The bats had arrived. Heinrich flailed his whip. The spear guard was marching forward. The armour slowly but steadily doged his track. Heinrich crashed a vial of holy water against the floor. The earth shook as the rubble waved forward. The spear guard got struck. Heinrich approached. HE summoned more power. The jewel whip struck the guard repeatedly. The enemy gathered. HE almost got impaled. Heinrich made a sudden back-flip. He threw the cross. His bloodline mystics made the item split into a flurry of homing crosses. The spear guard became overwhelmed. Heinrich captured the boomerang upon its return. He really was getting stronger. He leaned against the door. Heinrich got the dagger, stopwatch, axe, cross, holy water, crucifix, laurels and crystal. He got all the items which Leon Belmont found, those which Sonya Belmont collected. He even got the chain-whip upgraded on twice occations. He wondered if it would still be enough. Dracula was alive again. Heinrich had seen him for himself. This wasn't really the Vampire Killer, not the true family arsenal. All he really got, was the mystics, the Host and his crucifix. The chain-whip he'd borrowed from Alicia. His cousin would want it back eventually. Heinrich put a hand on his sword. They said it was a gift from St. Nicolus. That Alicia gave to him. He straightened his mighter. He opened the door. The cave was enormous. Heinrich made the sign of the cross. Below his position, the area was packed with wares. A lance suddenly went through the floor. Heinrich jumped. He ran down the stairs. The spear guard wouldn't get him that easily. On the second level, the armoured knight was ready to meet him. Heinrich was ready as well. The flame whip broke through its defensive. The stopwatch stopped its objective. Heinrich doused the thing with holy water. The spell only lasted for some 5 seconds. Perhaps the Soul ice worked longer? No matter. The spear guard stabbed. Heinrich retreated while whipping the enemy. The armour staggered. Heinrich threw axes. Flames burned on impact. Heinrich knew it'd been stupid not to pick the crystals from that last armour. The spear guard twirled. Heinrich was forced further backward. Although he was on the second hight, he wouldn't advice to fall. The spear guard poked its weapon forward. Heinrich jumped above. Upon decending, he grasped the crucifix. Dual electrical crosses circled his position. The sonic impact reduced the knight to golden ashes. Heinrich came back down. He picked the treasures. HE really could need those crystals. He went down on the ground floor. There was no sign of Torah. Heinrich scratched his beard. They hadn't grown up together. Like Reinhardt Schneider and Carrie Fernandez. But he still cared much about the little sorceress. She could need his help. Heinrich went to search the area. Something just wasn't right. He could almost put the finger on it. He turned a corner in the labyrinth. This was almost like the garden maze. He saw something. Within a niche, Torah was standing. Heinrich stepped forward. HE really was glad he'd found her.

Torah felt amissed. The area was huge. Much larger then she'd expected. How could she ever find something in here? Torah reached into her backpack. The mystic book might give an advice. It didn't seem likely. The book was no elfstones. Legends told they might reveal what their holder was searching for. She inspected the nearest boxes. There only was stored weaponry. Torah put back the book. Within the crates there where some liquid good. Torah thought it smelled like oil or something. She frowned. Why would the wicked need such qualities? She shook her head. How was she to find the nitro? Torah knew it had to be in a liquid form. She turned around the corner. She found food in cans and spice in purses. The area was like a giant store. A forest of lances stood to the right side of the stand. "Torah." The voice made her stop. Torah thought of the vampire. She preduced the ring-smash.
He was slowly revealing his presence. "Iori." Torah all but whispered. The boy laughed, somewhat hystericaly. Or so she thought. "What're you doing here?" The white-haired little boy pulled the hood over his head. "Don't have time." He said. Looking around. "Time." He whispered. Torah didn't understand. "He might be here." His eyes seemed to glaze over. "He want to kill you." Iori began laughing. Torah took hold of him, shaking his body. "Listen to me." She insisted. "What has happened?" Iori closed his eyes. When opening, he looked more sane. Why was he acting so confused? "He is safe." He said in a low voice. "You must also be." Torah still didn't figured it out. It seemed like Patrick was alright. But beside, she didn't get the hang of his speech. Iori giggled. He really was such a cute little boy. "Take one of these." He pointed at the shelf behind. "Put it down, wherever you want, And run." Torah noticed there where three samples in all. An ugly colourless liquid which made her feel slightly uneasy. That was the dryad side speaking. "That is the magical Nitro." Iori stated. Torah picked them all up. She put them into her bag. He'd began giggling again. "It's done." Tears stained his face. Was he crazy? "It's done." He seemed to gather. His eyes where shining. "Thanks." HE said. "Thank for that you came." "Iori." Torah slowly asked. "Why don't you leave? Why don't you get away from this horrible place?" Iori laughed. "Escape!?" He said, almost shouting. "There is no escape in the great darkness. We shall live in shadow where no accursed sunlight might shine upon us." Torah toutched the cross. "What did you say?" But he didn't answer. The boy had grown pale as cheese. His eyes went dark. "Do fear the Dark Lord." He said. He inhaled. "Would you avenge my mother?" He suddenly asked. "I'll avenge your mother." Torah nodded. She would do anything to keep him from braking. "I swear it." Iori smiled. "Then we have a binding contract." Torah didn't understand. "What have you been saying?" She asked. Iori toutched his temples. But then his sanity shattered, like glass. "He is here." Torah struggled to speak. Struggled to figure out what was happening. Iori left her behind. "The time is right when the time is up." She could hear him laugh. HE was repeating those enigmatic words while walking. Soon it was silent. He had been so confused. Torah tried to gather. He went with Patrick. He would show him the way into the castle. Some of the children where said to be hiding there. What could've happened? If only she knew. Torah got back up. Someone was approaching. Was Iori coming back? She turned. The motion must've told of her location. The steps grew quicker. Before Torah could react, Heinrich Schneider came into her line of sight. She inhaled. Then she stepped forward. "I found the Nitro." She exclaimed. Heinrich nodded. He had a look on the samples. Torah was eager to tell him what happened. Heinrich listen. But he seemed somewhat preoccupied. He told her about his battle. Torah was quite interested. "Have you found the Mandragora?" Heinrich suddenly asked. Torah looked upon him with a blank expression. The Belmont looked concearned. More so. He actually seemed worried. He went to investigate the storage. "Here." HE said, handing her a package. Torah felt confused. Though she took the mythological leaf. "You should've taken it first." Heinrich explained. "It would've protected you from binding." Torah didn't understand. What was he really talking about? Heinrich made the sign of the cross. "The magical nitro." He finally said when noticing her condition. "Really is magical." He put a hand on her shoulder. "Don't be afraid." He afforded. "But since you took those things without questions, they'll bind with your life-force." Torah felt how blood left her features. "You can't fight." Heinrich said. "Nor cast a spell without activating." Torah toutched her cross. Heinrich really was serious. "I finally figured out what was said in legend." Heinrich explained. "I can't be sure." HE held her gaze. "But I think you can't even jump or twist when holding that thing." Torah sat down. She was overcome by this information. "Why didn't Iori tell me about this?" She asked. Though without anger. Heinrich shook his head. "I'm not sure." HE confessed. "Perhaps he didn't know." He toutched the whip. "Perhaps he have his own intentions." Torah blushed. She thought about Carrie Fernandez. She also met a strange boy, back in 1852. Heinrich helped her stand. "We have to go." He said. Then Heinrich looked down at her. "I'll protect you." Torah put her arms in front. "As long as it's necessary." He made the sign of the cross. Torah looked away. His faight was strong. "I know." Heinrich said. His voice low and compashionate. "You would've done the same for me." He again looked into her eyes. "Be strong." He said. Torah nodded. She would be. They began walking. Heinrich quickly led back to the staircase. Some bats came flying down. Heinrich used the stopwatch. "They'll blow her up." She heard Heinrich mutter. "I will not make it happen." He whipped the mammals away. "I've already lost to much." Torah almost could taste his stamina. His devotion was so obvious. If she'd been older, Torah must likely had fallen in love. She wasn't certain if it was the case already. Though, it wasn't like that at all. Torah wondered if this was like having a big brother. Heinrich led the way up to the second level. "Stay behind." Heinrich warned. Torah nodded. There was another stone corridor. Heinrich led the way. The place was cold. So cold. The sound of flapping wings told Torah of their approach. Heinrich threw holy water. He just then whipped at something she couldn't see. Torah expected the place was haunted. "Heinrich!" Torah shouted. She saw the phantom skull just all to clear. He twirled. Torah watched with amazement. She'd seen him fight before. This was different. At last she was able to see his full brilliance. Heinrich was a Belmont clansman. A vampire hunter at his peak. Torah knew she still hadn't reach such hights. If only Yoko hadn't died. Torah almost began weeping. She picked together. Someday she would make it up. Heinrich continued the battle. He fought against the mammals and the invicible spectres. The snakes would try to take him. He would use the vampire hunting arsenal to defeat the serpent. Torah wished she could fight. Like when in the villa, or at the center. She knew different. Torah didn't doubt his warning. Torah knew she should've been more careful. She sidestepped the skull. Heinrich whipped the flouting phenomenon. He picked jewels and money bags. He even knocked a few candles. He let her take some crystals. Some became items when toutching. Torah was grateful when they reached the door. Heinrich went out into the staircase. Torah went along. She closed the door. Heinrich already was fighting mammals. His whip had become an electrical weapon. The axe knight threw the boomerangs. Heinrich whipped them into oblivion. He threw other axes into the air. Water pillars rised on impact. The axe knight got thrown down upon the basement floor. "Come on!" Heinrich shouted. The axe knight already had gathered. The thing was climbing back up. The third level was empty. Heinrich opened the door. Torah went inside. She was back inside the bedroom. The place was empty. Torah wondered what might happened with the red knight. If she didn't commit suicide, she must be alive. Torah watched Heinrich appear. Then she went for the French window. "Be careful." Heinrich reminded. Torah almost reached her thung at him. Though she did as he told. If only she could get rid of that Nitro. They hadn't come far when the harpies attacked. The giant boulder nearly crushed them on impact. Torah was pulled aside. "Be strong." Heinrich whispered in her ear. He then dashed forward. He made a flurry of homing crosses clear the sky. The surviving monster kept her distance. Blood tears fell on the marble. Heinrich withdrew. The harpy released multiple feathers. Heinrich made a circle of crosses rise around them. "Bloodborn!" Torah warned. "I know." Heinrich muttered. She hoped he didn't get stressed. Heinrich whipped the crimson figure. He then made lightning strike. The axe went through her heart. The electricity merely finished the job. Torah wondered how it might be to have that quality. They shared bogh flame and spirit. Heinrich got two extra powers because of his species. Torah knew she didn't have to be jelous. They went behind the area before another bloodborn might appear. Heinrich led the way beyond the other windows. Torah was glad there where no pillar of bones. Not that she'd fought any of them. Not out here at least. The pair went down into the garden. The sun had set. Torah looked into the sky. "Harpeis coming in!" She then warned. Heinrich was already moving. He threw holy water into the air. The liquid made them drop the boulder. It didn't even come near. Heinrich threw axes at them. Four projectiles went in high arches. Torah watched them explode on impact. The remaining duo came dashing forward. They picked her up. Torah remained silent. Somehow Heinrich was able to release her. She landed back down. Heinrich also landed. She guessed he'd been using his item-crush crucifix. No matter anyway. The monsters where gone. Torah went out on the courtyard. Even this area was silent. Heinrich threw holy water at some other harpies. They let go of their boulder. Torah escaped the impact. Heinrich did as well. He threw more axes. Torah fought to remain calm. The wall was ahead. "Put it down." She repeated what Iori said. "Then run." She was unsure if she should trust any of it. Never the less, she did place out one vial. She saved the other two, and the Mandragora. She might need them later. Torah suddenly lay on the ground. The powerful impact had thrown her upon the floor. She was grateful the others didn't went off. The barrier was gone. Torah got back on her feet. Beyond, was another part of the castle center. Heinrich came to stand beside her. He must've cleared matters with the harpies. He'd recoiled the whip. Torah didn't care. Her eyes where fixed on the figure. He sat upon a black horse. The shrouded figure, and the steed, where silent as sculptures. No matter. Torah knew who he was. "You." She breathed. "You are a black rider." Heinrich stepped forward. Torah hated to have to stay behind. No matter. She had no choise. This was Belmont work. Heinrich was right. She toutched the cross. Torah just hoped he was worthy this challenge. HE won in the villa mansion. If only he could do it again. The wanderer hit the raims of his beast. The battle was on.

There was another one. Niram had not won. Not yet anyway. He was ready. He swept forward. The red-fured fox beheld the undead nightmare with a stare of outmost distain. His hand made the appropriate gesture. Niram had come so far he did not have to speak the actual spell. The opponent froze. Niram beheld his handywork. It was good. His hand then became a fist. The frozen sculpture cracked. Then it shattered. He actually stamped on the pieces. His black leather boot was made from the skin of three different beasts, and decorated with gold. Niram always kept them fine and polished. Someone was applauding his efforts. He resheated his blade. Nigo always had been interesting in learning his spells. His eyes grew wider. "Why do you dress like the wizard's apprentice?" He asked. Nigo really was quite decorative. The shirt was of the finest red silk. The lacework was the piece of a master. The velvet tunic might still be brown in colour. But it kept embroderies in yellow and red. "You know why." Nigo said in a low voice. She made a salute right across the shining breastplate, while unsheating her dagger. "I made a binding contract." Niram beheld the red and shining yellow jewels upon the weapon. Then he nodded. "It might begin then." He stated.

The villa mansion, castle in Barnsdall. The 7th. Of January 2099 A.D.
Simon had led his group through the castle entrance. They'd spread out to investigate this area. Only Lucy was still with him. She sat singing upon the base of the fountain. Although she seemed concearned. The sun was low in the sky. Simon didn't feel much better. Although Benjamin had promised to go with him, Simon was unsure. Somehow this was ment to be. Why he knew that, Simon couldn't tell. The fact didn't make him all that worried. So much had happened since the chase began. Who was he to figure the ways of God? He walked the mysterious way. So much he knew. The boys returned. Olivia wasn't with them. Simon knew he should've gone with her. She didn't have the power. Or had she? Olivia could see things before they happened. That was a magical skill. Simon had figured it out. Reichardt knew many things. He'd found the X-files on the internet. He really was so clever. Simon toutched his own cross. "I think it's clear." Speaking about the devil. Olivia came back. She was perhaps 12 years old. Simon didn't knew that much about them. "I did as you said." She remarked as they'd began walking. "I then made my dreams come true." She smiled. Simon did as well. "We will uncover the truth." He promised. Olivia's smile widened. "We wil."

Castle center, castle in Barnsdall. The 7th. Of January 2099 A.D.
This was perfect. Just perfect. He was pleased. This way, she would not be able to interfear with his intentions. The fairy would give in. The dryad would as well. He would achieve victory. Behind, the boy kept playing his wistle. He beheld the boy carefully. He almost made him fail. Never the less. He made his work perfectly. His voice grew softer with silk when explaining his view. The boy got so merry with his compliments. He almost laughed. Was he really so like him once? That must have been long ago. He let the boy play games. Now, he was different though. And he would use that status when unfolding his plot. So convenient. He looked for the cage. She still refused to open. That was not important. Although it would have been glorious, patience was the highmark of a true Lord of Shadow. So it was. But then, he could work without her. It was however exelent training. Bogh for him and his boy. He retained his pose. He would like to play with him. The sound of a violin was soothing for him. This was not the time for such simple matters. He would have to look for their activeties. However unnlikly, they might be dangerous. Perhaps he could make a pact after all.

Heinrich dodged the hooves of the approaching horse. The black rider struck with the heavy steel ball. The metal chain swept above. Heinrich threw himself sideways. This was different from when he fought the huntress. The chain broke into multiple freezing icicles. Heinrich threw the cross. His boomerang split into tripled flaming crosses. They broke off the icicle attack. The dark wanderer came about. From within his grasp, the rider threw lightning bolts. The black armour glove showed no mark of the black magic. Heinrich made a circle of crosses shield his location. The energy exploded. Heavy flames burned on the battlefield. Heinrich reappeared. He'd managed to jump in time. Where was Torah? It wasn't time. The wanderer flailed his ball-and-chain. The impact made icicles spread abroad. Heinrich whipped the onslaught. Though worse then any of his careless use of power, was the riders very presence. A chilling dread clawed on his heart like with frozen nails. Heinrich shuddered. HE couldn't help it. He struggled to fight back. To keep his faight in God. "Stronger we are in the name of the Lord!" Heinrich shouted. The dark wanderer came riding forth. Heinrich threw the axe. His bloodline mystics made tripled axes fall down. Watery pillars forced the rider backward. Heinrich was on the offensive. The jewel whip rammed the rider's armour. From somewhere deep within, the wraith mouned in pain. The horse then shot a wave of fireballs. Heinrich mentally kicked himself. He should've known the steed was no ordinary beast. Not when it could carry one of the dark wanderers. The enemy followed up the assault with bolts of lightning. Heinrich withdrew. Fear and dread whispered of a certain doom. Heinrich refused to listen. He threw his knife. The dagger split in two. The electrical weapon went deep into his enemy. The undead wight staggered. He made the sign of the cross. Heinrich retrived his dagger. Then the ball-and-chain hammered the floor. The constant offensive forced him to run. Heinrich moved in circles to somehow get around the devil. Then he went the other way. The wanderer seemed taken aback. Heinrich knew he had to get him down from that horse. He still got his dagger. Heinrich threw. Dual raining projectiles sent the rider flying. He got back up. Heinrich threw the throwing-cross. HE made it split into a flurry of homing crosses. The horse screamed. Heinrich stepped backward. That was the sound of a real living being. There was nothing he could do. The steed was dead. He retrived his arsenal. A storm of thunder bolts made him gather. Flames burned the location. The dark rider wasn't banished just yet. He kept throwing lightning. Heinrich was presued by repeated flames. Then the rider knelt. Heinrich shivered. The wanderer had retained his bal-and-chain. Like death in black cloack and armour, the wraith approached. Heinrich grasped his crucifix. He was lifted into the air. The rider rised his hand. The flaming cross burst. The wanderer got the full brunt of the attack. He fell backward. The cloack was on fire. Heinrich approached. He whipped the wicked with his whip like a row of blue gemstones. The water force made the enemy moan. He screamed with the voice of death. The sound made Heinrich loose his momentum. The rider came forth. He was cold like winter's heart. Heinrich felt he would die, or perhaps something worse, if the wight might even toutch him. He then just made a huge purple crystal fall down. The gem shattered. A storm of electricity protected him from damage. The wanderer's armour got ripped to pieces. "Fool!" The wraight shrieked. "The Lord of Shadow may never be defeated!" Then the figure simply collapsed into a heap of empty cloth and armour. Heinrich felt like being overcome by dread and cold. Then he felt a warm, living little hand in his own. Torah looked him in the eyes. "You are a true hunter." She stated. Her trust, her faight, made him gather. The mere fact that he wasn't alone, gave him the strenght to rise. Torah looked up at him. Then she smiled. "I gathered your arsenal." She said. "Thanks." Heinrich said. If only he could show her how much she ment to him. The girl shrugged. Their moment got interrupted. A group of harpies where approaching. "Get behind me." Heinrich told. Torah reached her thung at him. Then she laughed. Heinrich shook his head. The harpies let go of their boulder. Heinrich threw holy water. A trio of vials went through the air. The sudden onslaught destroyed their stone. The harpies shrieked. Heinrich threw axes into the air. They made flames burn on impact. The harpies flapped about. Heinrich cracked the whip. Then he heard something else. That was an engine starting. "Torah." He said. "Give me the Mandragora." The sorceress looked uncertain. Then she gave him the purse. "Then the Nitro." Heinrich instructed. Torah gave him the vial. "This way." Heinrich looked about. The harpies where approaching. "We may bogh fight." He toutched his crucifix. "The Mandragora might protect me." Torah shook her head. "I still have one sample." Heinrich tightened the grip on his chain-whip. "Then go." He said. "Stronger we are in the name of the Lord!" Heinrich shouted while throwing the cross. The item spun above. "Get rid of it." He said through clenched teeth. Rock pillars emerged, striking the flock. They fell on the ground. He was unsure if they where really dead. The half-women/part birds of Greek mythology got back on their feet. They looked confusedd. The motorcycle-skeleton appeared. There still where some mist and gloom. Heinrich made the sign of the cross. Torah had at last began moving. Then she nelt. Like if she'd found something. "Go!" Heinrich shouted. "We'll meet again!" Torah gave him a look. "At the end of the world." She muttered. Heinrich nodded. "Through the grace of God." He promised. He then brandished the whip. The girl was off. "So be it." Heinrich said. "Let's play." He made the sign of the cross. "Glory be the Father, the Son and to the Holy Ghost!" He shouted. The skeleton within the sidecart fired its gun. Heinrich made a circle of crosses rise in protection. Then he threw daggers at them. The dual wavy daggers soaked their motorbike. The skeletons got cleared away. Heinrich just barely managed to side-step the wild cart. The bike collided against the castle wall. Then the engine exploded. The harpies had gotten back into the air. Heinrich made a huge crystal fall. The gem shattered. Lightning cleared the courtyard. Heinrich picked the crystals they left behind. He was just finished collecting money when another huge explosion shook the area. Heinrich got thrown on the ground. HE quickly got back up. "Torah!" Heinrich knew it had to be the sorceress at work. "Torah." He repeated, toutching his cross. He so hoped the girl was still alive. He would have to figure it out on another time. Other motorcycle-skeletons where approaching. Flapping wings told of harpies. Heinrich made the sign of the cross. Then he threw axes into the sky. The full circle of spinning blades made them drop the boulder. One bike got crushed beneath. Heinrich almost smirked. Legends told Desmond Belmont could do that when collecting the meteor spell. That happened in 1666. Heinrich crashed the vial of holy water. A huge blue flame went forward. The motorcycle-skeleton got engulfed. Heinrich threw the cross. Solid water pillars struck them out of the sky. While they where still busy, Heinrich picked the crystals. Then he ran. He got to find out what happened with his comrade. A storm of bullets made him side-step. The motorcycle-skeleton still hadn't pulled its engine. The biker just did. The bone in the sidecart fired another round. Heinrich dodged. They where unable to turn the thing whole way round. Heinrich threw holy water. The driver wasn't quick enough. The motorcycle exploded. He claimed the items. The harpies had kept up. Heinrich threw tripled daggers. The nearest got impalled. There still where two more of them. "Don't you have anything else to impale us with?!" One shrieked. Heinrich shivered. No way. Not that they didn't have a sort of rude charisma. But they just wheren't his type. Heinrich shook it off. They where like dirty little girls shouting for costomers on a ragged street. "Glory be the Father, the Son and to the Holy Ghost." He shouted while making the sign of the cross. He couldn't do anything about that. But he could do something about the harpies. The duo released multiple pointed feathers. Heinrich withdrew while whipping. He managed to rid of their projectiles. Then the harpy suddenly flew straight at him. Heinrich got taken aback. She put her arms and legs around him. Then Heinrich got carried into the sky. The brunette tried to distract him with kisses. He wasn't that stupid. He struggled to get free. Heinrich stamped with his crucifix. The creature burned. Heinrich fell back down. He knew this would be fatal. Then he summoned the bloodline power. The huge flaming cross appeared behind. HE was kept in place while flames cleared the area. Heinrich then was put gently back on the floor. It almost felt like someone was clapping his shoulder. Heinrich made the sign of the cross. Who said Heaven didn't have good humour. He smiled. Then Heinrich got back to work. The harpies where gone. For the moment at least. But then there came other bikes. Heinrich almost got shot to pieces. He managed to rise the crosses in time. He would have to collect those crystals which the harpies left. He crashed a vial of holy water. The sonic explosion almost threw him on his back. The impact gave him what time he needed. Heinrich picked the gemstones. Then he was back hunting. One bike he got by that blast. The other was still moving for him. The skeleton guiding the gun was busy reloading. Heinrich made the crystal explode. The repeated blasts struck the motorcycle right on. The bike collided against the impact. Bogh the bone-men and their vessel got destroyed. Heinrich picked the items. For a moment he was able to move abroad. There was another garage. The door opened. Heinrich expected other bikes. Instead, there came a trio of barking dogs. The three-headed Hellhounds split up. Two went to either side. The third came head on. Heinrich got the whip. The great dog clawed at him with its heavy paws. He got backward. He doused the monster with holy water. The Hellhound howled. Heinrich didn't have time. He spun around. The whip had become a bar of gold. The spiritual energy struck the dogs. They grawled and barked. Heinrich made a circle of crosses appear. He needed more space to manouver. The Hellish beasts where kept at bay. Heinrich made a back-flip out on the courtyard. Then he threw his axe. Four weapons fell down. They made flames burn on contact. Although deterred, the offense didn't have that much impact. Heinrich went on. The nearest demon got whipped into oblivion. The liquid whip was strong against the Hellspawn. The other Hellhound brought him to the ground. It just jumped ontop. Heinrich was able to keep it at bay. Though the three heads where eager to tear his ttrout. "Jesus!" Heinrich summoned the name of the Lord. That was a name no demon could withstand. The hound went away. Heinrich threw the dagger. The third dog came galloping forward. The dagger split in three. Then it continued to split. Heinrich threw a row of daggers, like Juste Belmont did in 1747. Heinrich needed no spell-fusion. Richter Belmont, who fought Dracula in 1792, had no use for them. Neither had he. The Hellhound got tore to pieces. Heinrich watched the beast burn. Then the last watchdog was back. It clawed with its monstrous paws while dashing forward. Heinrich whipped. The demon dodged. It came again. Heinrich made a circle of crosses rise in protection. The Hellhound got thrown on its back. Heinrich used the stopwatch. He ran forward. Though 5 seconds didn't last long. The dog was back on paws when approaching. The demon dog bite for him with all three heads. Heinrich made a glide. HE landed just before the monster. The Hellhound actually wiggled its tail. Heinrich snarled. He then stamped with the cross. Holy flames went through the massive body. Heinrich felt it shake. The Hellhound howled. Heinrich then let it have the holy water. The shining explosion defeated the demon. Heinrich struggled back up. That had been to close. He picked crystals and money. Cerberus interrupted the collection. Heinrich made the sign of the cross. Cerberus howled. The giant black dog then breathed heavy flames. Heinrich wondered if this was like Nathan Graves felt when fighting the monster in 1830. He put it aside. He just barely managed to sidestep the onslaught. Cerberus came dashing forward. Heinrich threw himself sideways while making the crystal explode. The blast covered up his retreat. The watchdog soon discovered. Heinrich whipped for the grotesque trio of heads. Cerberus howled. Flames burned on the battlefield. Heinrich made a circle of crosses rise in protection. Cerberus came dashing over. He was ready. Heinrich crashed a vial of holy water into the ground. A water wave soaked the devil. The Hellhound howled like a forsaken soul. Heinrich brandished his weapon. There where still enough water to turn the thing into a jewel whip. Cerberus was forced backward. Then all three heads breathed heavy flames. Without the laurels, Heinrich would've been dead. He stamped the foul monster with his crucifix. This time the demon dog did burn. Heinrich felt all sick. Cerberus howled. The beast collided against him. Heinrich lost hold on the symbol. The demon dog dashed. Heinrich held the whip in bogh hands. No matter. The dog got hold of the metal. The demon used the whip as a catapult, throwing him far away. Shaken, Heinrich let go of the whip. Cerberus lept. Heinrich got the sword out just as it went home. "Jesus!" The monstrous hound got pined upon his blade. Without conscious, Heinrich channelled spirit force right through. Cerberus became dissolved. Soon nothing was left then ash and items. Heinrich picked the crystals. He was happy for them. Heinrich even took the money. The place was silent. He retrived his arsenal. Heinrich cracked the whip. What was keeping her up? He made the sign of the cross. Heinrich promised he would find out. He then began moving. Mist and gloom made the area obscured. Heinrich tightened the grip on his weapon. That where the sound of flapping wings. Then another engine was started. Heinrich made the sign of the cross. The harpies had arrived. They let go of the boulder.

Niram sat upon his chair. He beheld his new apprentice. Pale moonlight peeked through the windows. The courtyard lay below. Nigo had been studying his books. They where of the same tribe and species. She really had such a talent for magic. Niram wondered if that was part of the contract. Never mind. The New Order could use any magician who would pledge fealty, to lord Dracula of course. "What is your wish." He asked his apprentice. They where not darkside. She would have to learn through strict study and practise. Niram knew. He was not finished with his schooling himself. A true wizard knew that it would take a lifetime to grow. That was perhaps why his kind lived for so long. "I wish revenge." Nigo claimed. "I wish death upon those who killed my heartbind." Niram lowered his head. "So you said earlier." HE stated. Nigo made no comment. So was not proper. Niram beheld her more carefully. "I cannot teatch you such things." He told. "Magic means more then to kill." He got up. "But I may show you what we can do." Nigo was eager. So perfect. She was still at such an early stage. "Come." HE said. "And I shall show you my art." Nigo was so excited.

Torah put the Nitro down. Then she ran. Torah hoped the thing would break the wall. She got thrown to the floor. The impact struck the air from her lungs. It was some time before she could gather. Eventually Torah got back on foot. The ragged old fence had gone across the courtyard. It was gone now. Torah was just glad the Nitro went along. Then Heinrich still got another sample. Torah hoped he'd been right about that Mandragora thing. If only they where to never use it again. The Nitro crippled their mobility. Torah toutched the cross. If only her magic had been strong enough. She put the matter aside. When toutching the symbol, she even reached another neclase. Torah had recognised the item. It was Saria's medallion. She had to have been here. Somehow Torah was unsure if it really was like that. If only she'd been gifted with Mathilda's ability. She could read an item's history just by toutching it. Every connection had a shatterpoint. To read the thoughtlines which connected was a rear gift. Torah focused. She preduced the ring-smash. The medallion might make her use magic again. Saria told it could amplify the abileties of the holder. Why was everything so quiet? The sun was down. Mist and gloom obscured her view. The ground was all grey with frost. Torah hoped it was proof of their actions. The square courtyard opened up into some sort of octagonal area. There was another fountain. To the right and left, stairs led up into the castle. Torah was no architect. But she guessed they might lead to the inner quarters, or to the chapel area. "Child." Torah was about to breach the open area when she became approached. "I have been expecting thy arrival." She got into a defensive posture. Mist gathered, then it became more solid. "The vampire is a creature of the night." Yoko had told. "He might become a bat, a wolf or even a coil of mist." Her grandmother had been serious when teatching about these things. "I tell you they even come in the moonlight or like flakes of snow." Torah broke free of the reverie. She would need all her mind to concentrate on this matter. Actrise had arrived. Even though they met before, Torah felt no better. She could sence the other's potency and power. "Thou have indeed passed the test." Torah didn't answer. To be true, she didn't really know what to say. "Doubt no more." Actrise said. She put her staff against the pavement.
"Become my apprentice." She reached out with her left hand. "Do nay thy fear get in the way." Torah stepped backward. She'd received this same offer before. The answer was still the same. Although Isabella didn't understand. It wasn't fear which kept her from exploring her abileties. Her emotions where not the matter. Magic was a dangerous matter all by itself. Wasn't her own transformation a proof of the statement. Torah toutched the cross. "I never join you." She said in a controlled voice. "Go away and leave me alone." Carrie Fernandez had been misunderstood because of her rashness. That only had been the product of an iron will. Torah knew she wasn't the girl Carrie was. She was softer in her appeal. Torah was not even sure she wished to be like her ancestor. Not in that sence anyway. Though she would like to have the same resort. "Thou art even more foolish then I thought thy should be." Still her eyes where cold. No matter. Torah noticed the orb was afire. "I read it on thy features." The witch said. "Though so simple it shall be." Torah crossed her arms in front. "I know what you're about to say." She stated. "You want me to sacrifice 100 children in the name of Satan." She preduced the ring-smash. "I'll never do that. I'll rather die." Actrise seemed to relax. "There art another passage." She said. "Others which have pledged fealty to the Dark Lord." Actrise actually smiled. The sight of her fangs made Torah nervous. She struggled to find the strenght within. To find the resolve of her predecessors. "Others of thy bloodline where not afraid of what power thee might achieve." The hunger reentered her voice. "She art here." Torah felt chills down her spine. "Now. This very moment." Torah would rather fight the iron maids again. That was no option. The mist gathered into another figure. That was standing at the fountain. "You." Torah muttered. "But you're dead." "Yes." Torah's cousin smiled like her mistress, exposing her fangs. "Yes indeed." Gwendolyn stated. She was obviously amused. Torah picked together. "Through my power, I was able to arise." Even Gwendolyn had a cane in her hand. Torah remembered how it felt like being her prisoner. Never again. "Begone while being." She almost hissed. "I summon the name of God." She said while presenting the cross. The symbol already blazing with holy flame. "Thou art not ready." Actrise simply stated. "Nay yet." Torah shrugged it off. "Stay away. I'll do what my ancestors have done. Stay away, or I'll have to kill you too." Torah knew it was empty bravado. But she felt it was the right to say. "I art nay thy foe. Nay tonight. She beconed. "A soul of equal power and potency." Gwendolyn had a step forward. "She once breached the castle." Actrise decleared. "Thy Belnades family even remained in Walachia." Torah retained her post. "The ruins of castle Dracula." She seemed to behold the very words. "We art there. Always." Actrise beheld her cousin. "They brought her to us, alive." Her rod had began to glow. "Thy struggled for so long. But then thee learned the pleasures of the flesh." Gwendolyn toutched her neck. "As you say, my lady." Actrise was amused. "The spell would take three days to take hold. Thou art perfect." The witch then spread her cape like huge black wings.. Torah watch her lift high into the air. "Do my bidding, apprentice." She decreed. "Show me thy dreams." She beconed. "Show me thy fantasy. Show me thy desires." The globe shone like a red giant. "Show me thy deepest, darkest fear." Her laugher echoed throughout the castle center. "And I will make thy wish, thy dream, thy desire, come true." "Yes, my lady." Gwendolyn Fernandez lowered her head. Torah knew it was true. She must've made a pact with the Devil. Carrie Fernandez was sure it was true. Rumours about the "retired actress" had been going abroad. They said she'd sacrificed one of her own children. They said she sold her soul to Satan. For fortune and fame. That was in 1852. This, was now. The witch was a demon. Torah was sure about it. Actrise loved nothing or nobody in this world. Except for herself, and count Dracula. "I really want my ring back." Torah's cousin laughed. She inhaled. The air was cold and fresh. "Two souls of equal power." Actrise sounded thoughtful. "Thy family is thee through life and death." Then suddenly Gwendolyn shot forward. Torah barely got time to react. Her cousin got her fangs exposed. She felt chills down her spine. The last time, Torah kept her blood intact. "Orbs of sorcery!" Torah shot her magic. "Orbs of sorcery!" Torah's cousin shouted. The tripled homing ball shot destroyed her orb completely. Torah toutched the cross. "You have grow strong since our last encounter." Gwendolyn stated. "But so have I. Zapphire shards!" Tripled crystals which trapped the little sorceress in place. "So it ends." Her cousin approached. From above, she heard the triumphant laugher of her real enemy. "Begone with you Satan!" Someone shouted. Torah hammered against the crystal. She knew some witches might keep her imprisoned forever. Some might even use this to drain their victim's power. Julia had appeared. She was clad in that yellow dress. Torah wondered what she was doing here. "I won't let you do this." Suddenly she spat a homing fireball. "I will not let it continue." The crystal got shattered. Julia then ran away. Torah wasted no time. She was free. The ring-smash struck Gwendolyn in the chest. The vampire had been dumbfounded. "Die!" She suddenly was back in action. Torah made a back-flip. Her cousin was flouting in the air. "Belmont pet!" Gwendolyn spat. "You lick their fingers, when you could've been the lord of shadow and govern your tribe forever and ever." Torah moved into a defensive posture. She hadn't pierced the heart. Torah dashed. She threw garlic into the air. Gwendolyn snarled. She twirled her staff, releasing forward with a wave of steam. Torah ducked. The onion got blocked. "Orbs of sorcery!" Tripled orbs of homing plasma shot from her hands. Torah threw stakes at her. This almost was like fighting those dancers below. "Zapphire shards!" The crystals almost went home. This time nobody would come to rescue her. "Orbs of sorcery!" Gwendolyn deflected with more steam. Torah presented the cross. The symbol made the undead to cowar. Torah stamped. She channelled her magic force. That made frost freeze upon impact. "Ice!?" Her cousin screamed with dismay. Orbs of sorcery!" Torah blocked with the ring-smash. No way. The impact threw her backward. She got hit by the heavy steam. Actrise laughed. Torah got back up. Torah's cousin came dashing forward. Her fangs where exposed. "Zapphire shards!" Torah prayed it would work. That Saria was right. "Zapphire curtain!" The three crystals shattered against her shield. Torah didn't feel that odd sensation. It was nothing to speak of. But whenever using magic, Torah had felt strange. This time, she didn't. Saria's medallion had absorbed the backflash. "Thank you God." She whispered. Gwendolyn gave her no refuge. "Orbs of sorcery!" The trio of homing orbs hammered against her magic shield. Torah still wasn't strong enough. She had to let go. Though not without a fight. Torah let go of the magic. Then she made a sudden sidestep. "Zapphire shards!" Her cousin wasn't taken aback this time. Torah threw garlic to might defend herself. The tripled blue crystals got shattered. Torah charged with more magic. Blazing stakes struck the flouting vampire. Gwendolyn shrieked. Torah blocked her ears. Had they been turning slight pointy? Never mind. "Orbs of sorcery!" Torah was able to glide beneath the onslaught. She jumped back up. The smash missed their target. Heavy steam blocked the offensive. Torah was thrown hard on the floor. Her cousin lent down over her. "So it ends." Her fangs where exposed. "Jesus!" Torah shouted. The summoning of God's name, made her cousin scream. Torah stamped with the cros. The stench of rotting flesh made her feel sick. Gwendolyn lifted into the air. "Zapphire shards!" Torah blocked with wild roses. "Orbs of sorcery!" "Orbs of sorcery!" Although Gwendolyn's where slightly larger, and more powerful, Torah was able to deflect the onslaught. Gwendolyn's eyes where bright red with flames. "Zapphire shards! Orbs of sorcery!" Torah twirled. She threw stakes about. She'd had some practise. Although they where quicker then the Medusa heads, it was the same point. The trick worked. Even though Gwendolyn dodged, Torah didn't become incapsulated. Torah toutched the cross. It reminded slightly about when Heinrich used the item-crush stopwatch. Though he used bubbles, not crystals. No matter. The heavy steam might burn her flesh. The blue ring might grant some protection. That was no reason for getting careless. "Orbs of sorcery!" Gwendolyn kept firing her magic. "Zapphire shards!" Torah dodged the crystals. The orbs of plasma got a homing propencity. They chased her about. Torah threw roses at them. "Zapphire shards!" Torah answered with tripled stakes. She charged her magic. "Orbs of sorcery!" Her cousin fired. The rose illuminated the courtyard. The flaming flash blocked the objective. Torah went straight behind her magic. The flame stil boiled at her fingertips. Torah bit together. She would not start using magic again. Medalion or no medallion. She wouldn't risc loosing her bloodline. She lept into the air. Torah stamped with the cross. The impact had struck Gwendolyn from the sky. The burning impact this time brought her to her knees. Torah went for the kill. Her cousin twirled with the wand. Steam and mystics struck her to the ground. Torah screamed when the fangs dug into her throat. Gwendolyn drained her blood. She was risen back up. "You are mine." Torah's cousin dictated. Actrise was applauding. Her black cloack was stained with crimson. Gwendolyn opened a wound in her wrist. "Come." She said. Blood was spilled. "And it will be complete." Torah was terrified. To drink of Gwendolyn's blood would seal the crimson bapthise. She went forward. Torah had a feeling of being controlled. Gwendolyn stood in front. Torah knew she was expecting her. She wouldn't let it happened. "Never!" Torah then screamed. She dug the ring-smash into the heart of her cousin. Gwendolyn fell forward. Torah cut off her head. Blood was spilled all over the place. Torah shivered. Gwendolyn burned in a pyre of bright purple flame. "I hope you'll become to Heaven, with my grandmother." Torah said. She almost wished to throw up. Some of that liquid got into her mouth. The witch decended. "So it is complete." Actrise said. She didn't seem to care about the loss of her aprentice. "Not yet." Torah said through clenched teeth. This was cursed land. But she still got something else. Torah retrived the purification crystal. She got quite a few. A flash of light illuminated her position. Torah blinked. Had anything happened? She toutched her neck. There was no wound. That was no proof. She knew it would disappear after those three days. Although this was a cursed area. Torah toutched the cross. It seemed alright. Then again, she could be flexable. The witch beheld her with hate and distain. "Thou could have lived eternal." She scolded. Torah stepped backward. "I don't want to be a vampire." She bent to claim the ring-smash. Actrise didn't seem impressed. "thee art doomed." She held the staff in bogh hands. "Thy life ist over." They became interrupted. A swarm of bats came flying in. The sound of a whip was heard. The shrieking of harpies told something was wrong. Heinrich came running. He threw axes into the air. Lightning struck on impact. "Blory be the Father, the Son and to the Holy Ghost!" Torah giggled. She couldn't help it. She would've kissed him. Here he came in the nick of time. "Begone with you!" The Belmonts really where the hero. "This is nay over." The witch told. "Thou shall regret ever having defaied me." Torah crossed her arms. "Then I shall be ready." Torah bousted. "Do nay refuse me again." Actrise placed the staff in front. "Thou realize thy cannot defeat me." She then disappeared. That was the real point. Torah thought about it. Actrise could be right. No matter. Torah bit together. Whatever happened, she would put a brave face on it. She was the descendant of Carrie Fernandez and of Yoko Belnades. They bogh defeated great evil forces. Heinrich was finished fighting the harpies. He came to stand beside her. "Sory." He said, breathing heavily. "But I wasn't fast enough." He bent over, supporting himself upon his knees. "I let her get away." Torah shook her head. "You don't have to." She stated. His statement made her realize. "It's I who have to defeat Actrise." He viewed her carefully. Torah blushed. She knew the attitude of her statement. Never the less, it was the truth. Nobody could fight her battle for her. She explained her view. Heinrich slowly nodded. He made the sign of the cross. "May the Lord bless you, little sorceress." She arched an eyebrow. Though he seemed serious. She never got an answer though. The bell rang. Down the stairs came groups of lizard men. Torah advanced. The sound of flapping wings told of other enemies. "Orbs of sorcery!" Torah released her magic. The monsters kept in their line. They where not like those she fought downstairs. Torah threw roses at them. The explosion covered up her assault. Heinrich was busy fighting the harpies. She caught a glimpse of him through the corner of her eye. Then there where no more time. She where among her enemies. "Orbs of sorcery!" Torah ducked beneath the lance. She shot the beast into oblivion. A cold wind started to blow. Torah dashed. The ring-smash cut through his stomach. She stamped with the cross. The club almost got her. A flurry of boomerangs made things less complicated. Torah released her garlic. The group gathered. "Watch out!" Heinrich shouted. Torah made a back-flip. The harpies let loose their boulder. The rock actually struck some monsters. "Opal sun!" Torah let loose her magic. The remaining lizards withdrew. They breathed an acid mist. Torah threw herself flat on the pavement. Heinrich answered with holy water. The engulfing flame cleared the area. At least for some time. The lizard men gathered. Torah got back up. She ran to stand beside her comrade. Heinrich made the sign of the cross. Some harpies where about. The monsters spat more poison before advancing. "Dance of the Nutcrackers!" Saria's medallion really took the brunt of the backflash. Torah danced with the fairies. Heinrich was more courageous. He went forward, whip in hand. Torah came along. She threw garlic at them. The harpies came low. Torah licked her lips. The blonde spread her wings. Multiple pointed feathers got spread about the area. Torah held the cross high in front. The symbol blocked some projectiles. "Orbs of sorcery!" Torah charged the magic. Tripled balls of homing plasma shot from between her fingertips. The mythological creatures got shot out from the sky. Torah picked the crystals. She even claimed the money. Heinrich was stil in the midst of battle. Torah wondered how he managed to withstand her ice magic. No matter. Such was the legend of their bloodline. Torah threw flowers about. She was able to reach her friend. Torah swung with the ring-smash. The razor-rings went clear through their armour. Not that it was really that impressive. The arm was made of scales and leather. Torah stamped with the cross. The swordsman burned on impact. Heinrich was lifted into the air. Torah watched as a giant crucifix appeared behind. Then it burst into flame. Torah didn't wait to see the outcome. She dashed among the enemies. She got hit by their breth. She didn't care. Torah decided she would defeat their numbers. "Torah!" Heinrich was coming for her. She smiled. He really cared about her. His whip had become a tool of jewels. He splashed water all over the place. The holy water made their enemies burn. Torah had another antidote. The liquid removed the poisoned state. Heinrich collected the crystals. Torah also gathered. Some became items when toutching. Torah was able to replenish her arsenal. She let him have the money. Torah hung up the ring-smash. The castle loomed above. Torah got a feeling it was glaring at her. Something soft landed upon her hand. Torah watched it carefully. Then she cheered. "Heinrich!" She shouted. "Look!" She pointed skyward. He made the sign of the cross. "It's snowing." He agreed. Torah was dancing. "Yes." She laughed. "The forest is returning to normal." Her joy was cut short. A sudden scream was heard. "Darkside." Heinrich remarked. He'd gotten the whip out. "They'll soon be here." Torah said. Her voice a mere whisper. Heinrich toutched his cross. Torah looked at the stairway. Iori spoke against entering the castle. The giant lizard man had as well. She was unsure what to do. Torah was still terrified from the meeting within the mine. Heinrich seemed to have made up his mind. "This way." He told her. Torah preduced the ring-smash. She wondered what he was aiming for. The Belmont clansman led her away from the castle. Torah wasn't quite sure. But she thought he was leading them slightly downward and away from the fountain. Snow continued falling. Torah had lost that joyful feeling she got when it first began. Heinrich went behind the steps leading to the chapel. Or so she thought. The white obscured her view. Then he stopped. Torah went forward. They'd entered a small den. There was no fountains in here. "The tree of the dead." Heinrich whispered. Only then Torah was terrified. The castle wall wasn't far off. Torah didn't care. Before them, located within a circle of naked earth, stood a single tree. Somehow, just the sight of that, made her feel nervous. A black bird sat among the branches. Torah went even closer. Heinrich was moving from behind. "Nevermore." He said in a low voice. The raven seemed to act accordingly. It spread the dreary black wings and lifted away. For a moment, they just stood there.

Actrise stood atop the castle center. She beheld what had transpired. The little sorceress had again spoiled her plot of conquest. It had been snowing for quite a while. She cared not. This curse held no relevance to her Dark Lord. So she thought. Actrise wondered how it could be this way. He never spoke to her. Something was amiss. The witch was certain. Was she not a member of the circle of blood? The vampire could still hear the echo of his last command. Actrise held her staff high. The orb was blazing with sinister magic. Then she put it back down. Torah Fernandez saught to defeat her. Such rudeness. That female could not defeat her. She was still young. Barely tested she was. Actrise thought about the matter. She still could prove her statement. Though she had lost so much. They where still not escaped from the courtyard. She made it that way. The witch smiled with malice. The hunters would learn to fear her power. Even though they might have the resource, that action would only remedy their own ondoing. Actrise would be there to see it happen.

Tower of sorcery, castle in Barnsdall. The 7th. Of January 2099 A.D.
Niram held the pendant in one hand. This kind of magic spell would need an outer focus. It was to dangerous to use his own body or soul. He put the book down. They had to be placed in the correct order. Nigo sat at the heart of their figure. Even she held the twin pendant. He was chanting the spell. Each word had to be outered in order. There was to great a risc for dissolveation. Nigo cried out the words of their climax. A pillar of blue light shot up from her position. Niram was breathing heavily. The practise of black magic where often refused by the great. But they may be manipulated as the source of elements. "Now!" He decleared. Nigo would sacrifice some of her own blood. They where not darkside. Either way, blood was a powerful resource. She cut into her palm. The crimson liquid stained the floor. The books, representing the spirits of those they would need, began to glow with eerie light. Neither he, nor his apprentice, possessed the power of glyph channelling or absorbation. That was of no relevance. The spell was commencing. Niram charged with triumph. The young sorceress's body was strong enough to withstand. The blizzard had become unleashed.

Castle center, castle in Barnsdall. The 7th. Of January 2099 A.D.
Julia was alone. For the first time in many years, she was completely alone. She couldn't hear those whispering voices. They'd left her. Julia wasn't quite sure if she should feel glad or sorry for it. She was a vampire. Nothing could change that. Only if Chaos could be put to rest. Then perhaps all would go back to the way it had been. Julia doubted it would be that easy. She never got the opportunity to choose her way in life. Heinrich said she still could. Julia wondered how that might be. A snowflake landed on her shoulder. The crystal was perfect in any way. Julia found it beautiful. Then there where coming more of them. She looked into the sky. A storm was coming on. Julia was clad only in that same yellow dress which she carried within the rose garden. Julia's neck and shoulders where left bare to be seen. The cold didn't toutch her. Either way, Julia wished she had a cloack. She felt so naked. A man-beast might sustain the coldest winter. Julia wished to be out of here. She still got her powers. Julia then went through the wall. She never would come back to this accursed castle center.

Heinrich made the sign of the cross. Snow was pouring down. The tree had been here when he came to stay with Patrick. Although that was three years ago. The tree hadn't been dead by then. Thomas still called it the "tree of the dead". Torah was going forward. She was heading toward the tree. Heinrich wasn't sure she really should do that. There was something about that trunk which made him feel nervous. "Nobody betread the sacred ground." The voice was barely audable over the sound of the howling wind. Heinrich stopped. He got to whistle. It wasn't really suitable, but he was a man. She was lean and graceful. He cracked the whip. Her skin had the colour of polished eboney. Her long black hair was kept in a braid, going all the way down her back. "Beware of the tree of Gaborou." A single jewel shone above her perfectly-shaped oval eyes. Heinrich broke out of the reverie. Her airs where pointed, like one of theirs. Torah said something he didn't capture. "Kobe!" A black wail covered the lower section of her face. "You aren't allowed." The woman lifted bogh arms into the air. She held a blade of shining bronze. Heinrich moved for her. "Attack!" The lady pointed forward. A duo of big wild cats, advanced from out of sight. Heinrich felt almost dumbfounded. This female vampire was not like any he'd met before. The leopards came his way. Heinrich gathered. HE crashed a vial of holy water. A large blue flame engulfed the wild cats. Simon Belmont fought against leopards in 1688. Only that, they hadn't been real animals. Alucard had stated, in 1797, that they where Dracula's brides making manifest. The African girl carried armour upon her chest and shoulders. She met him hand-to-hand. Her blade could repel the whip. "I am Kobe." She purred. "You may not recognize." She made a back-flip. "But I decend from those you call amazon." Heinrich gave no answer. He wasn't such a fool. The elegant opponent spread her lips into a sweet-looking smile. Exposing her fangs at the same time. Heinrich shivered. He never liked the vampire. Though they must've been attractive, once upon a time. "Attack!" He dismissed the matter. The leopards charged. Heinrich threw daggers at them. The swift stream of projectiles killed them bogh. Heinrich wondered if they might be real living beasts. Kobe met him straight up. Her bronzium blade struck hard against the whip. Heinrich had no chance to charge his weapon. One elegant silky eboney leg, concealed beneath her bagy trousers of delicate silk, suddenly kicked him back. The Amazon smiled. She was quicker then he'd expected. Metal plates protected her waists. Was this like fighting the iron doll? Christopher Belmont faught against that villain in 1592. She made other leopards to attack. Heinrich threw the cross. The weapon split into a flurry of homing boomerangs. The crosses went home. She was able to heal herself, like the mighty undead could do. Heinrich made the sign of the cross. Kobe snarled like a wild beast. She then threw the blade like a spinning projectile. Heinrich was able to dodge. Then the weapon was coming back. Even this time, he avoided getting hurt. She vanished like a wail of snow. Heinrich retrived his items. "Attack!" Kobe was back. She unleashed her leopards forward. Heinrich made the crystal explode. The repeated impact destroyed the wild cats. Even the African vampire got shot. She picked together. Kobe threw her bronze sword forward. Heinrich got struck in the chest. The armour protected from damage. Either way, he got knocked far back. The Amazon dashed. She came forth with a successive claw-swipe. Heinrich stamped with the cross. Kobe snarled like an animal. She vanished like snow. He got back on foot. The undead might be anywhere. A flurry of bats told of her approach. Heinrich jumped. He released a circle of axes. The mammals got defeated. Kobe made a gesture with her blade. "Attack!" She commanded. The preshiously speckled cats went on the offensive. Heinrich used the stopwatch. He only got five seconds. The whip became a burning tool of destruction. They couldn't be real creatures. No beast was demolished that easily. The Amazon vampire dashed at him. She stabbed with her claws. Heinrich was able to sidestep. Kobe jumped straight up. She then threw the weapon. Heinrich struck the whip, repeling the objective. The Amazon was furious. She made a swarm of bats to attack his position. Heinrich threw holy water. He brandished the whip to might defeat the mammals. Kobe had vanished. She suddenly reappeared in front. She slashed her claws. Heinrich ducked. She swung the blade for his head. Heinrich stamped with the cross. Her stomach was on fire. Heinrich released all his bloodline power into the assault. The flame burned their way all up to the heart. Kobe screamed. Her body was consumed with flame. Heinrich threw more holy water. The vampire was no more. Heinrich made the sign of the cross. The wicked burned away with ugly green flame. What was keeping Torah from action? Heinrich spun. The sorceress was consumed with battle. Heinrich didn't believe it. No less, the tree was actually moving. It wasn't possible. Then again, He had to believe it. The battle was taking place before him just now. Heinrich was taken aback. What could he do? Then he got interrupted. Another bronzium blade came like a boomerang. "Attack!" The Chinese vampire, was clad like Kobe, made her tigers advance. Heinrich threw himself sideways. Then he used the stopwatch. The daggers handled the cats. "Wei Lin." She made another gesture. She was more petite then her comrade. A swarm of bats came dashing forth. Heinrich brandished the whip. His opponent vanished like a vail of snow. Strange, but bogh of them where dressed like an Arabian mistress. Not really. The bronze sword came twirling forward. Heinrich got struck to the ground. The lady killer came with repeated claw-stabbings. Heinrich rolled aside. He sent her the boomerang. The throwing-cross cut into her body. Her blood stained the snow with crimson. Wei Lin was able to heal herself. Her skin was like perschelean. Heinrich struggled to resist. If only he'd been in love. Then they wouldn't have the same impact. She came for a second round. Heinrich whipped her repeatedly. She snarled before vanishing in thin air. Heinrich got a momentary breather. Not for long. The undead was back. "Attack!" She demanded. Dual wild cats came dashing forward. Heinrich made crosses rise in front. The first got burned. The second jumped across. Heinrich whipped the beast with his liquid whip. Even this tiger burst into flame. Another swarm of bats came flying forward. Heinrich threw holy water. Wei Lin came dashing forward. Heinrich stood tall. Somehow she blocked every twist. She smiled. The tiny heart-shaped features almost made him loose control. She was every bit the seducer. Heinrich bit together. HE didn't have room to charge the item. Then he managed to twirl the whip around her weapon. He tried to pull her off balance. She got the strength of 20 men. She was able to break free. Heinrich stepped back before throwing the axe. She was to slow this time. The throwing weapon smashed through her chest-plate. Her black leather west, although decorated with bands of gold, got soaked with blood. Wei Lin disappeared. Heinrich knew it wasn't the end. "Attack!" She sent her tigers forward. Heinrich stabbed his blade into the earth. Flames lit the area. The animals got burned. He still wasn't sure if they where alive or not. The vampire got power over the lesser forms of life. If they could dominate the wolf, the bat or the raven, why not wild cats indeed? Never mind that now. Wei Lin came like one of her own beasts. Heinrich got struck backward. He used the laurels. They could heal his damages. The Eastern vampire threw the blade like a spinning boomerang. Heinrich was able to repel it this time. The enemy jumped straight up. She retrived her weapon. Only then to throw it back. Heinrich threw holy water into the air. Wei Lin got splashed. She fell back down. Heinrich ran forward. With all his force, Heinrich pludged the dagger deep into her heart. She shrieked. Her body was consumed by fire. Heinrich struck a final time. Her head went off. Heinrich watched as Wei Lin burned into ashes. He made the sign of the cross. He hoped her soul might be free at last. "You shall pay for what you did to me!" The battle wasn't over. Snow gathered into a third female vampire. "Silvya." The Puerto Rican undead introduced herself. Heinrich wondered why they tend to do that. No matter. The fight had begun. "Attack!" Silvya demanded. The jaguars approached.

Torah watched as Heinrich left. He soon was obscured by mist and snow. Torah was about to follow, when she stopped. There was something about this tree. Something she fought to remember. That giant dead tree within Ravenberg. That had been a nightmare. Torah toutched the cross. She hoped that would never happen again. Treant had been there. She tightened the grip upon the symbol. Saria would name them as dendroid. Torah didn't believe in that. Good and evil wasn't that strange to recognize. No matter. She would have to break out of the reverie. Her thoughts where interrupted as the huge trunk actually spread its branches. A bounch of tiny green freaks got released. The gremlins, or whatever creatures they may be, beheld her for a moment. Then one thought seemed to hatch in each of their little brains. Torah got a nasty feeling they all turned vile at the same time. They came forth with a unified scream of madness and hatred. Torah withdrew. Their eyes where gleaming all red with malice. "Fountain of fire!" Multiple fireballs got shot from between her fingertips. The gremlins got fried. The tree itself then seemed to come alive. It flailed its wooden limbs about. Torah threw herself backward. "Orbs of sorcery!" The magic only seemed to irate the branches. Other gremlins got released. Torah threw garlic into the air. Although some went home, they didn't have any impact. Torah picked together. She knew she wasn't really trying. The influence of the curse could take even the more basic forms of life. This was no exception. Torah had to kill the tree. She had to figure it out and be quik about it. Another band of gremlins got released from the branches. Acording to legends, Treant was the homestead for the humpback tribe. Torah didn't care. She threw roses at them. She even charged with magic. The flaming explosion wiped out the flock. "Let's have a closer look." Torah said. "For your eyes only." She muttered. "Behind blue eyes!" Torah knew her gaze changed colour. Parallel beams of blue energy shot from within her eyes. The demon tree got frozen over. Torah wasn't finished. "Opal sun!" The solid opal fireball shattered on contact. The sheer impact struck Torah to the ground. She lept back up. The gremlins had arrived. She met them with the ring-smash in hand. The tiny green freaks dashed about with their claws extended. Torah had no armour. She soon felt like being tore to shreds. The cross made them burn. Torah grasped those who came to close. The freezing grasp made them snap. Although she survived the battle, Torah felt no victory. The giant tree struck the ground. Torah almost got thrown off balance. "Dance of the Nutcrackers!" Torah wished Saria could see her by now. The wild came to dance with her. Torah knew that her sister's medallion would protect her from the backflash result. The tree got frozen over. Torah stopped dancing. The gremlins left crystals or money behind. She retrived the items. Then she focused. "Rainbow flame!" The arching blast shot from bogh palms. Treant burned. Somehow she could feel its anger. The trunk was animated by a purly malicious force. It flailed the branches all about. Torah was forced to run. "Long shot!" Her eyes altered from brown to bright yellow. Beams of solid gold struck the tree hard. Treant seemed all numb by the process. "Fountain of fire!" Torah released an outburst of fireballs. Even this time the tree managed to gather. A flock of gremlins came leaping forward. "Zapphire curtain!" Torah didn't wish to do this. She had no choise. The tiny green freaks got frozen upon impact. Torah let go of the shield. Treant was flailing its wooden limbs about. Torah was forced to run in circles. "Hand of faight!" The tree's only real weakness was its size. At least when fighting a ranged opponent. The solid impact of golden energy made the enemy stand in place. "Opal sun!" Torah let go of all her energy. The massive waight of the assault struck the trunk hard. Torah felt the malice leave the area. Then there was only the dead tree which remained. Torah watched the branches burn into ashes. "I'm sorry." Torah whispered. She so wished for that the spirit might be released. Treant had been a wonderful tree, once upon a time. Torah was certain. She inhaled. There was no time for mourning. Torah retrived the crystals. The den seemed to be clearing up. Snow was still falling. But the thick whiteness or mist, had seized. Torah felt a sudden weariness. She toutched the medallion. Wasn't it warm? Torah closed her eyes. Even this item couldn't protect her from herself. It was already cooling. No matter. She had to be careful. Torah put it back. She would have to wait until using more of the direct magic. Torah opened her eyes. Only then did she realize what was going on. Heinrich was fighting against a Lathin vampire. Why was she dressed like an Arabian Amazon? No time for such questions. It was rubbish anyway. The closer Orient had no such warriors. The Belmont crashed a vial of holy water. The jaguars got absorbed. The undead fighter threw her blade. Heinrich repeled with a sudden flip of the whip. Torah nodded. He really was quite clever. "Attack!" She let loose another pair of jaguars. Torah decided she better join in the fight. Heinrich threw his tripled boomerang weapon. Torah watched as the wood became ablaze. The wild cats got struck to the ground. Torah went into a croutched position. She fell into a slight trance. Torah was able to track their origin back to the astral plane. She broke out of the stage. Heinrich was busy whipping her position. The vampire met every stroke. She really was quick and agile. Torah felt a sudden jelousy. She would like to become that sleek and attractive one day. Not now. A swarm of bats came his way. "Orbs of sorcery!" Torah advanced. She threw homing balls toward the mammals. Their enemy disappeared like a wail of snow. Torah advanced. "Attack!" The jaguars came dashing for her. Torah threw stakes at them. They where only spiritual beings which had made manifest. The stakes cut through their weak status. There was no real magic power to back up. The enemy had dashed for Heinrich. Torah came running forward. Another swarm of bats slowed her objective. "Orbs of sorcery!" She charged the magic. The trio of homing balls circled her body before going outward. The purplish orbs of plasma homed onto the mammals. They exploded. Heinrich struck with the whip. The killer got forced backward. "Attack!" The jaguars dashed. Heinrich met with the crystal. Torah finally got through. The villain slashed her claws. Torah was able to get beneath. She made a dual swing. The crush smashed through her body. The armoured plates where of no use. Torah got kicked backward. The vampire then healed herself of damage. Torah shook her head. She got difficulty with breathing. "Silvya!" Heinrich was there. He crashed a vial of holy water. The holy flame engulfed her body. Somehow the vampire was able to morph into mist. She reappeared somewhere else. The Belmont made crosses rise in front. Then he gave her of his healing potion. Torah got back on foot. Silvya made other bats attack. Torah threw flowers at them. The wild roses made them explode. Heinrich was at the offensive. He threw tripled daggers. Torah was at his side. She lept forward. The vampire made other mammals appear to take the knives. Then Torah stamped with her cross. Silvya shrieked. Her body was ablaze. It should've been impossible. But she gathered. Torah almost got slashed. "Get away from there!" Heinrich shouted. He was on his way. Torah was unshure what to do. Then a huge crystal fell from the sky. Flames burned the area. "Zapphire curtain!" Torah huddled together. Even though protected, she felt his power. The vampire was burned into ashes. Torah let go of the shield. They beheld each other. Heinrich then nodded, making the sign of the cross. Torah smiled. They really was such a match. He let her have the crystals. Torah wondered if he really new where he was heading. The blizzard was only going worse. Heinrich was finished. He went forward. Torah was quick to follow this time. She wouldn't let anything split their team. They went down another narrow passage. The white almost concealed the greyness of dead grass. Some bats where about. Torah stamped with the cross. They actually landed upon her body. She wouldn't permit them to drink of her blood. Then they reached another square. This one was large and mostly barren. Only some marble benches occupied the leftmost side of the area. Torah looked that way. Wasn't the castle up there? The snow obscured her view. Not completely though. Torah put a hand over her mouth. "Is that a dragon?" She asked. Her voice seemed so weak. The snow hardly concealed the large body. Still, it was difficult making out the shape. The snoring and pillars of smoke, clearly told it was asleep. "I don't think so." Heinrich shook his head. Even though he too kept his voice down. "Whatever it is." He added. "Let's just let it alone." Torah agreed with all her heart. They sneeked past the huge beast. Torah got the feeling it was large as an elephant. Heinrich quickly led her to the tower. Huge black walls where staring down. Torah finally figured they where in the lowermost corner of the courtyard. "When we where children." Heinrich said while working the controls. "Patrick and I used to play with this elevator." Heinrich smiled. "Thomas always said we shouldn't." Torah nodded. She tend to forget this had been a family estate. Patrick used to lived her with his brother and sister. Heinrich frowned. "Something is wrong." He said. "The elevator should've been here by now." Torah went to stand beside him. She toutched the cold metal. "Aouch." She pulled away from there. "Don't toutch that thing." She told him. "There is something vile within." Heinrich seemed confused. HE put the crucifix upon. The door began to glow. Then some sort of magic seal became visible. "Evil lurk in the darkness." The Belmont whispered. Torah fell into a slight trance. She didn't want to inspect it to closely. The curse was very strong indeed. This was the work of a witch. "Actrise." She almost snarled. Heinrich sent her a look. "She made this shield." Torah explained, leaving her trance. "It seems like she don't want us to leave the center." Heinrich thugged his beard. For once, he looked tired. Torah knew. They'd come this far. Now, they would have to go all the way back to the basement. Torah wasn't sure she could carry that Nitro all the way up here. "Stay back." Heinrich said. Torah gave him a look. Then she realized. "You don't intend to… " She never finished her statement. Heinrich put the third sample, and the Mandragora, down before the tower. "In the name of the Father, the Son, and of the Holy Ghost." He said, making the sign of the cross. "Be Your will." Then he run backward. Torah went along. The impact was extraordinary. When the smoke cleared, the seal was gone. She cheered. Torah couldn't help it. She tried so strong to pretend like a grownup. But she wasn't. Heinrich wasn't that impressed. He inspected the result. "We might leave." He said. "When all is over." Torah didn't understand. But then of course. Behind, the large monster had awaken.

This was the end. He accepted the statement. Not that he would expect such an outcome. The boy still played his flute. The cage stood on the table. There was a handful of cards. Not enough. Not nearly enough. He did not have all of which might make her his pawn. He could have sold them to others of his kind. Then why? Why throw away such power? He was not such a fool. All unused power, was waisted power. Such was the old saying. It told the truth. Never the less though. He picked the cards and put them back into his pocket. Perhaps he would place them in his lair. That was speculation. He was disinterested. It had only been a mere possibility. The fairy was reluctant. He gestured for his boy. He put away his instrument. The child then came to him. He then gave the cards to him. They might as well complete the ritual here and now. Such would be best. So was much better. He took the boy's hand. So far, it had worked to their advantage. He would eagerly accept. He put his hand on his forhead. "You should have been a lord of shadow." He said. "The time is over." He knew. "The time is right when the time is up." So he was right indeed. Soon, very soon.

Clock tower, castle in Barnsdall. The 7th. Of January 2099 A.D.
It was a mere coincident. One of his probe relayed the info. Vego had checked it against other data. A smile went across his meager features. "Continue surveillance." He told his computer. The probe would obey. Such it was programmed. He looked upon his comrade. Raglian made a dismissing gesture. Vego acknowledged. Raglian was a half demon. His mother had been a witch who made out during a ritual. That explained the wings, and the tail, for that matter. Vego dismissed the matter. He was himself the product of a magic rite making havoc. The outcome was a cybernetic organism which was bogh man, machine and demon. He was a vampire. Though he had achieved control of bogh body and soul. He toutched his own features. A bad habit. He knew. But it was such a wonder after all. "That old man." Raglian said. "Sat a price on his head." Vego smiled. Though it never reached his eyes. The polished green armour reflected the moonlight. They could not understand. He toutched one of the deep red parts. They where lined with yellow. He kept his arm in those. "Let's go and fetch it then." Raglian seemed amused. A quick tour. A quick price. That was what they needed.

Castle center, castle in Barnsdall. The 7th. Of January 2099 A.D.
Henry and Richard had picked their victim. She came to them without fear or reproach. He was pleased. Though others must've had her already. She was an American idol. Tall and blonde, with an impressive bossom. Henry smiled, exposing his fangs. They had been on a backpack holiday, travelling abroad the Romanian countryside. Then, one night, a woman came to their camp. It was in the midst of June, the year 1999. She wished to travel with them. Richard had no regret. She was a British brunette. Or so she had appeared. Her name was Lucy Westenra. They had been found a week later, dead on the field. Henry remembered like it was yesterday. Their bodies had been brought to the Bistritz hospital. After an obduction, they had been buried on the clinic's graveyard. Richard put a hand on the girl's shoulder. She smiled at them. Her eyes where open. Though she was in the trance a vampire might inflict. Henry returned her gesture. It always was like when they first had hypnotized that Russian nurse. His smile grew even wider. Then the vampires faded into mist.

Heinrich and Torah stood together. He'd brandished the whip. She held the ring-smash at the ready. The huge monster shook off the coverage of white snow. He could see what it was by now. Torah had been nistaken when calling it a dragon. The monster might have. But it wasn't. "It's a Behemoth." He said. Torah didn't replay. The huge monster gave no time for conversation or dialogue. The huge demon bull charged for their position. The hunter threw himself sideways. The raging bull kept on coming. "Orbs of sorcery!" Torah shot her magic. The homing ball seemed to have no real effect. Heinrich was almost sure it wouldn't. The huge Behemoth was at a rotting state. He would've seen beyond the obvious, if he got the time. He hadn't. Heinrich was forced to run. Somehow the demon bull figured out that Torah couldn't reach through. The monster thus concentrated its efforts against him. Heinrich was at a loss on what to do. He really wasn't more powerful then the girl sorceress. He might as well try something. The Behemoth was going berserc. Heinrich flailed with the whip. He made it become a tool of destruction. The gold whip struck it hard. Torah threw roses into the air. Her spell-force made a powerful flaming explosion to rip through the demon's body. The Behemoth fell over. Then it suddenly charged. A sort of nuclear beam got released upon the area. Heinrich barely dodged the devastating onslaught. The demon bull dashed at him. The horns struck him backward. He really was grateful for the laurels. Torah was busy chopping with her ring-smash. Although slashing some pieces, the Behemoth didn't seem to notice. Heinrich got back up. The monster had turned on the sorceress. "Let be my sister!" He shouted like an idiot. HE got no sister. Torah and he wasn't by any mean blood related. Either way, Heinrich ment what he was saying. He released a flurry of homing crosses. The bull staggered. Then it went up on its back legs. Heinrich threw himself sideways. The channelled beam of destructive nuclear energy rammed the battlefield. It was a miracle the entire castle didn't become obliterated. That monster was all to careless. Torah threw garlic into the air. She must've been using spell-force. The onion created another freezing explosion. The bull fell back down. Heinrich crashed a vial of holy water. The Behemoth got consumed by the holy blue flame the moment the garlic went home. That wasn't enough. The demon came charging forward. Heinrich noticed the other half of the demon looked more rotten. That made no sence. The demon bull was running about the area, chasing them about. It then released another blast. Heinrich doubted the laurels might save him if he ever got trapped. Torah threw stakes at the monster. They went straight through. They had no impact. Heinrich was able to get in close. He whipped repeatedly. With his morning-star whip. The monster turned its massive head towards him. Heinrich threw himself sideways as another heavy blast struck the battlefield. Torah reappeared. She grasped the demon with her bare hands. He noticed about the gauntlets. She channelled golden energy into the monster. The Behemoth staggered. Heinrich threw the axe. He summoned more of his bloodline power. Tripled axes fell down. Lightning struck upon impact. The raging bull shook. It was the only way to describe what happened. Then it lifted up upon its joings. Another nuclear explosion hit the battlefield. Heinrich managed to dodge the objective. He wondered how he might be toutched by the radiation. Torah might be in even greater danger. Her body wasn't that strong enough. Her strange blood might make her less able to withstand the impact. No time to think further about that now. Dracula's henchmen and monsters where all careless. The Behemoth had began to chase Torah instead. "Orbs of sorcery!" Torah charged repeatedly. Her magic had no impact. The demon seemed to drag along its rotting carcass while it continued the assault. Pieces of skin and rotting flesh got tore off while the battle continued. Heinrich got an idea. He focused more power. Then Heinrich threw the flaming cross. The boomerang split in three. The burning crosses then dug deep into the damaged midsection of the raging bull. The Behemoth fell into a heap. Then it got back up. Heinrich almost got consumed by the heavy laser. The pure energy should've made him desolve. That didn't happen. Heinrich channelled all of his mystic force into the laurels. He got healed. But the result left him shaken upon the area. He couldn't move. Not the least. So this was how it should end. No. Heinrich wouldn't let it be that way. He would fight. He would get out of here.

Torah watched her comrade fal. He really had become like a big brother. Torah wouldn't let him die. "Why don't you take any on your size?!" She shouted. It was meaningless. Even though the beast hadn't been at such an undead state, it wouldn't listened. If only she got something red. That wouldn't happen. Though her shouting made it look sideways. Although undead, there was a sort of ill intention behind those glased dead eyes. The aura almost made her blood chill. Torah bit together. Heinrich discovered the beast had to be struck twise with power for it to have any impact. Saria's medallion was still going hot. She had to relay on spell-forced recalibration. The demon bull charged. She backed away. The battlefield was so large. The beast kept chasing her. "Orbs of sorcery!" Torah would blast it with periodic shots. That was a set-up. Torah knew she was quite agile. Though she couldn't keep up forever. The raging bull would never grew weary or tired. Torah had the mystic book. She retrived the fairy ocarina from within her purse. She made the book open by its own accord. That had been one of Carrie's favorite tricks. Torah wasn't Carrie Fernandez. The song was the "Bolero of fire". Torah began playing. The Behemoth was on the offensive. The music seemed to awaken fire within her heart. Torah thought of all her friends. All which she cared about. A tear went down her cheek. From between her lips, and from all other areas, flames errupted. The demon bull got knocked down. But then it got back up. The monster rised upon its backjoints. The expanding devastating beam struck the courtyard. Torah was able to dodge. The battlefield was to large. But the benches got all polverized. The enemy still came dragging forward. Torah knew she wasn't able to sing another tune. Not for a while. Though depleted of her magic force, she still kept on dodging the Behemoth's efforts. The raging bull let loose another dissolving wave. The demon left behind a track of rotting flesh and ugly black skin. Torah almost felt to throw up. That she couldn't do. Torah decided to try something else. The demon almost pined her down. She threw garlic into the air. The impact stunned the beast. At least for some time. Torah waisted no time. She threw roses into that wounded spot. The explosion was really extraordinary. The impact seemed like it would be the payoff. Then the monster kept moving. Torah licked her lips nervously. The Behemoth only seemed to get quicker by each shot. The demon bull kept chasing her about. It would sometime stop to charge up for another devastating beam. Torah was going low on ammunition. If only Heinrich would get back up. That was no point. Her mission was to keep the demon busy while he got back around. Torah dashed forward. She knew this was dangerous. No matter. She had to keep it going. She toutched the ugly monster. Torah channelled its necromancy force straight through the gauntlets. The evil force thus was drained from the demon bull. No matter. The counterforce was sent right through her body. In a moment, Torah got to feel what this lonely existence really ment for this monster. Cold, and a furious anger, was all there was left. Torah was screaming. The sheer waight of this malice was crushing her down. She saw visions of how the Behemoth once lived. She felt its pain when dying. Then the pain of everlasting nothingness. She couldn't keep on. It was all to much. Torah let go of the flood of magic power. She staggered backward. A tripled assault of flaming daggers made her smile. Torah was glad to see that Heinrich was back in action. The Behemoth turned. Somehow she regained her energy. "Opal sun!" Torah let loose all the magic into one final strike. The solid impact struck the demon hard. Behemoth fell burning to the ground. The back half got reduced to ashes. Torah bit together. Why wouldn't the rest of it burn? Her speculations got interrupted. The Behemoth began to glow with an ugly green glow. Torah felt really disgusted. This monster had to be defeated. Heinrich was slowly getting closer. Then the raging bull shot another devastating laser. Somehow it would stand on its front legs. Even though it had been immobilized, the battle was far from over. Blood and slime covered the snowy courtyard. This had gone to far. The Behemoth was polluting the area. Heinrich dodged the blast. He answered with another devastating explosion. Torah figured he must've used the crystal. Ugly dark blood stained the area. Heinrich got hit. She watched his face turn pale. Then he became all green. Shaking, he got an antidote. Torah didn't have time. The moment the crystal exploded, she hurled white flowers into the air. She fused with spirit. The shining explosion, combined with the crystal, seemed to reck through its body. The rotting carcass beheld them with empty sokets. Torah felt chills down her spine. This wasn't fair. The Behemoth then channelled another beam of energy. Heinrich had been able to heal himself of the poisoned state. He pulled her aside. Heinrich then made a circle of crosses to appear in front. The barrier got shot. Either way, they survived the onslaught. Heinrich was altering objective. Running from place to place while throwing axes. The offensive seemed to confuse the undead demon. Torah wondered what he might be up to. Then Heinrich crashed another vial of holy water. The sonic explosion really shook the area. Torah was quick to follow this time. "Orbs of sorcery!" She charged with all her force. The three homing balls of blazing plasma circled her body before going home. Poison blood got spread all over the courtyard. Or so it felt. Torah made a back-flip to escape from the pollution. The Behemoth followed with another blast of nuclear energy. She really was grateful humans had stopped using such power. Heinrich seemed to also having survived the attack. He was coming back. The demon bull kept unleashing its power. Torah knew the radiation might kill them eventually. She didn't wish to die of canser. Worse still, she might not be able to have any children. Although young, Torah knew her obligation to the family's survival. She better quit thinking and start acting. Not about the give birth thing though. The idea made her giggle. She put it aside. Torah knew it was a waste of time. She'd emptied herself of bogh garlic and roses. She knew there would be others within the candles. That wasn't getting her anywhere. Not now at least. Not sure what to do, she still went back upon the battlefield. Heinrich was throwing crosses about the place. The Behemoth seemed to know where they where going. Torah toutched the cross. Heinrich made lightning strike. The Behemoth charged. Torah lept. She stamped with the cross. Torah let loose all her remaining power. The demon bull then exploded from within. Torah was thrown hard upon the battlefield. The next thing she felt, was Heinrich helping her back up. "You did it!" He congratulated. She thought he looked younger then ever before. "No." She stated. "I didn't do it." Torah smiled. "It was we who made it." Heinrich tightened the embrace. Then he finally let go. "We may all thank the great Lord for His mercy." He made the sign of the cross. Torah wasn't sure she agreed. Still, she knew what he ment.

Actrise watched the battle. She really was disappointed. The witch invested so much energy upon this being. Lord Dracula would not approve. He bestowed the beast with his power. Just now, the little sorceress had picked up the mystic orb. She gave it to that accursed Belmont scum. He would consume the energy. She watched him become restored back to the original state. The Behemoth's corpse had burned into oblivion. Fresh white snow soon concealed what had transpired. She watched with disgust as the man and the sorceress did pray. She exposed her fangs. They would not get away. Actrise would make Torah Fernandez give bogh body and soul over to the Dark Lord. The duo of hunters had ended their rite. They headed into the elevator. She expected they would eliminate the seal. It only was there to highten the effort. Then they bogh disappeared from sight. That was of no concearn. They would make no progress. Actrise knew about the count's activeties. Why should she not? As a good servant, she should keep track of her lord's demands. Actrise let them go. There still was time before the final ritual. The witch then faded into mist.

(A.N: I may have mixedup with dialogue or with the map layout when reconstructing these stages. But as a death blind, I never played these games. Either way, I really am a fan of the CV64 titles. I hope you liked it anyway. The lady killers are of course based on the "Stain-glass knight" from HC and the "Iron doll" from CVA. I've already began typing out the next chapter. Have a nice time.)