Cele cinci luptători... (The five warriors) - Prologue / no.1

Year- 1448
the country of Romania is torn in a state of battle. The Mad king Vlad Tepes, otherwise known as the impaler or Dracule, has been fighting a constant battle of power to keep the thrown. Many have died, and many more will. At a manor, near the famous castle of Vlad him-self, one of his most faithful and most trust of generals would soon come to pass. General Luptători, who had been suffering at the hands of an unknown illness for years, even as he trampled through battles on horseback and engaged in combat in wars, he still fought on, gaining the respect and friendship of the impaler. This would grow even more when the good general and his family of 5 children were taken captive by the enemy Turks. For the growing months the General never gave in to the torture, nor any of his children. All his 4 sons and 1 daughter suffered torture as well. His daughter, Annastavia, was to suffer the most due to her gender. The Turk lord threatened the general that he would send a Turk to Anna's cell every hour if he didn't surrender information. But the general was a stubborn; he dared him to do so, claiming "My daughter is not the pathetic type you keep in your disgusting harems, Turkish dog. Send your men to her...send them to their deaths"
and his words were true. Somehow, Anna killed whatever Turk entered her room with ill attentions. She remained a virgin, with the blood of 53 Turks on her hands. Eventually Vlad Tepes had sent troops to rescue and take over the fortress, but not before general Luptatori and his children were branded like cattle. The Turk leader had said "since you are so loyal you can proudly wear the symbol of your loyalty"
they had heated a metal plate of the crest for 'the order of the dragon' which Luptatori was apart of. His brand was over his heart. Valeriu, the eldest son had been branded in the center of his chest. The second eldest, Mihail, was branded on the right side of his chest, opposite his fathers. The two twin boys, the youngest, Dragos and Dragom, were branded on opposite arms and finally Anna, the youngest of them all, was brand at the top of her back. Those burn marks would remain there for the rest of their lives, but they would share and show them with pride. For not a word of treason ever passed their lips.

"my children...bring forth.....my c-children..." ordered the ever so growing weak general as he lay on his death bed, ritteled with illness. Valeriu, 23, Mihail, 20, Dragos and Dragom, 18 and lastly Annastavia, 16 entered the room, standing beside the death bed, all with saddened faces. They knew the clock with ticking for their dear father.
"My children... if ever you find. your back against the wall....with enemies closing in and no hope left... find the 'gate' and open the l-lock....there, you'll find 'it'...." he gasped, becoming shorter and shorter of air as he weakly passed an old key to his eldest son. "Valeriu... you are the eldest...you must. Lead your brothers...and protect your sister..."
Anna collected his weak, pale boney hand in hers and soothingly stroked them, bringing at least some warmth to him. He weakly smiled. "You're the spitting image of your mother...so beautiful..."
his voice was growing weaker."My Children... my Legacy... my...warriors..."he suddenly went coughing fit, followed by a flooding of blood. Valeriu lifted his hand and covered Anna's eyes. The coughing continued until finally they ceased. Anna made him lower his hand and looked down at her deceased father. Pale as snow, eyes rolled back with a stream of blood running from his mouth down his neck, staining the pillow. the doctors could do little, all that was done was the white bed sheet at the bed of the bed was pulled fully up, covering him as the children watched on, silent.

*2 years later*
the battle is still raging on, land and power is going from hand to hand. The 5 children were house bound, with little to do. Enemies were closing in, and their backs were most definitely backed against the wall. Hope was dying. But not their spirits. The four brothers would pace constantly look at a battle plan, trying to think of someway to fight back. Vlad Tepes had refused to make them his generals, either because he didn't want Luptatori's 'legacy' to be killed or because he thought they were unable to fully understand battle at their age. They were kept under-somewhat-house arrest by the war.
"Either way we look at it, we're doomed! The Turks have cut off any supple and road routes we need and we don't even have support! we have nothing !" raged Mihail
"not nothing...we still have the 'gate'" the twins said together
"we've tried the key everywhere and haven't found anything to do with it" Valeriu said in a tired tone, pinching the bridge of his nose.
Anna was standing by the window looking out at darkness in the night, but some burning fires of last battle nearby still remained. "Not everywhere..." she said. All her brothers looked at her with a questioning look.
She led through the home, right to one of the very large hallway with a thick rug running down it. Taking one end she flicked it back, revealing a trap door that she struggled to open until it fell back, fully opened. "You always wondered why I was so good at hide and seek. I found this years ago but only just remembered... down there, it leads like a tunnel, until it comes to a gate, a locked one"
"think it's it?" Mihail asked to his older brother
"it's worth a shot..."
And so the 5 descended down and walked to find a large, heavily cob-webbed gate/door. Valeriu took out the old key which he held dear since the day it was given to him. He slipped it into the lock and turned the key, opening the gate. Slowly, they crept through to find a large tunnel like chamber, full of armor, weapons and a collection of books. While the boys went off looking at the 'toys' Anna looked at the books and gently blew the dust off one, then started to look through it.
"....va.....v-vam....vampire?" she struggled to read the word.
Dragos, who heard her asked "what's that?" but all shrugged without a clue.
"Brothers, sister! Come look at this!!!!!!" cried Dragom, who had gone further down the tunnel. The siblings rushed quickly but stopped in their tracks when they saw what he had found. A coffin, made to stand on the rocky alter. All stared in awe and slight confusing. Who was inside? Why was it here? Was this part of their father's plan?
"You open it..."
"No you open it..."
"You..."
"You!"
The two twins baited each other Mihail and Valeriu were trying to stop the two and only Anna was silent looking at the coffin. Her eyes widened as she began to step back, getting the attention of her brother who in turned looked. The coffin's lid fell forward seemingly on its own and inside...inside was not human.
"...good evening....children..."