A father's love for his daughter

One night Taki woke up as the village was completely silent. Something was bothering her very much yet she didn't know what but her ninja senses told her to go where all the scrolls were preciously kept. Three sentinels always stood vigilant to protect the scrolls since powerful monsters resided within the sealed papers of their clan. When Taki entered the place, she felt something was strange, it smelled death… She had taken her kodashis out and was now carefully walking toward the scroll room. As she entered, she quickly noticed the three ninjas guarding the place. All dead, lying down on the floor. Their limbs separated from their bodies. She suddenly spotted some shape moving away, so she began to run after the seemingly feminine shape with pigtails. The woman running noticed she was pursued and after a while of hot pursuit, when they were outside of the village, she stopped and waited. Taki then saw her in the moonlight: A woman with a completely crazy gaze and white and violet hair. She was waiting for her. The woman then said to Taki in a raspy voice:

-How many more should I send to the grave tonight?

-Who are you? I can feel the evil! Wicked soul… prepare to die!

As only answer, Tira laughed and said:

-You're no match for me, let's make this quick!

Tira and Taki both threw themselves at each other while screaming.

-Go back to hell!

-I'll… shred you!

They both clashed together and began to fight furiously. Tira swung her Eiserne Drossel at the ninja but Taki swiftly evaded the crazy girl attack as the ringblade dangerously flew where Taki was just moments ago. Taki had jumped over Tira and tried to slash at her with her kodachis.

-You cannot defeat me so easily!

-Goody! Because I like when my toys don't break too fast! They can scream even more!

Tira crazily slashed at Taki again and the kunoichi had to back away to get out of the crazy girl's demented attacks. This strange girl was very nimble and was somewhat of a challenge for Taki. Now at forty-five years old, she had lost some of her super athletic shape and even if she was still above normal human, she did have some difficulties fighting this woman who was radiating Soul Edge malfestation to a big scale and seemed somehow inhuman.

-Humph, I guess this isn't going to be so easy… muttered the kunoichi.

Meanwhile as Taki tried to evade the crazy girl's attacks, Tira seemed to have a lot of fun.

-This is fun!

She slashed Taki violently. As she fell down, Taki worried about the scroll that this woman just took: The one holding Soul Edge's essence in it! The part of the sword that Talim could not scatter into the normal flow of nature. The most evil part. So thinking of the horrible consequences this could bring, Taki got up and prepared again to fight the dangerous woman. After a ferocious battle, Tira sent Taki down again and then held the scroll up high in victory.

-Oh, I'm so happy! I found a new one! Lucky me! And this time, I found the biggest part of Soul Edge!

She gazed happily at the almost unconscious Taki.

-You ninjas hid it well! It took me so much time to trace it down! This calls for a celebration! It's time to party! I'll dance on your corpse!

And Tira prepared to jump on Taki when she suddenly noticed the guards coming her way. She told them tauntingly while showing the stolen scroll:

-It's too late, losers!

And she went away in the night, laughing crazily.

-Bye-bye!

The ninja guards ran after her but she was faster than those trained ninja and they soon lost sight of her. Taki penibly got up and stared toward where the crazy girl disappeared.

-Damn! Now… I must hurry. I must put an end to this right now.

Natsu, Taki's student, had just arrived on the scene. As Taki passed before her, she asked her master, what was going on but Taki walked beside her student without a word. Natsu noticed that her sensei seemed really preoccupied and wondered what just happened. Taki quickly went to see her childhood friend Chie, head of the Fu-Ma ninja clan. Inside Chie's house, the two women spoke for hours, discussing of what just happened. Hiding carefully while listening, Natsu was annoyed: Speak louder, I can't understand a word!

After a while, Taki went outside. Natsu didn't move and remained hidden. Taki suddenly stopped.

-It's late. You should go back in bed. What have you heard?

Natsu was surprised and embarrassed; she got out of her hiding place.

-Huh… In fact, sensei, I kind of realized I lost my time for nothing since I haven't heard a word you said.

-Good. Then good night.

The tone Taki used indicated to Natsu that her sensei would not talk about what happened so the young ninja went to bed but she didn't sleep at all, wondering what happened and what was worrying her sensei so much. Very early in the morning, Taki was preparing her stuff as Natsu came inside her room.

-You're going, sensei?

-Yes. I'll be back in about two weeks.

-But where are you going?

-In Europe. There are some troubles there…

-Two weeks to go in Europe? Won't it take some more time just to reach it?

-Well maybe but I'll be back soon anyway. Do not worry.

-But why are you going? Take me with you!

-No. You're too inexperienced. I must go alone. Stay here and keep training under Chie's guidance and protection, answered Taki on a strict tone. But then Taki's gaze softened as she continued speaking. She affectionately put her hand on her student's shoulder.

-Take care, Natsu.

And Taki left the house, leaving Natsu disappointed and still without a clue. She lowered her head and dropped her shoulders in frustration.

-Man, what a drag.

Natsu suddenly lifted her head and went outside after Taki.

-Oh, hey, sensei! Take care too!

She ran after her for a while, waving at her until she stopped.

-Damn! I wish you brought me with you…

Yet Natsu was an obedient student, she only obeyed Taki and no one else but she obeyed her well, so she would stay here and train under Chie as her sensei told her.


Raphael rode without rest for days. He could not permit himself to leave Amy alone one more day and really had to get the Soul Edge followers to lose his trace. He had used his Imperial soldier identity to gain the horse and used it a little farther to collect some taxes money from some gullible man but now he had to lose this costume fast since Soul Edge followers would know he was dressed like this with their lizard monster telling them and the Hanover authorities may do something about his crimes too. Yet he needed the money he just stole to buy new clothes, so he went into a shop and bought some other costume to continue his trip more incognito. He also bought a hat to hide more his features and hair. Maybe he would be less recognized… As he made a stop in an inn for some hours, quickly preparing to go away after some small nap, Raphael gazed at the multiple wounds Tira inflicted him while trying to disinfect them the best he could with the few he bought. Curse that damned Tira… At least, most will heal… Indeed, if she had not kept him for her Nightmare thing, she would probably have done far worse… He then felt his fangs with his tongue:

-Damn…

He was really upset of his turning back into a vampire, yet maybe it was his teleportation power that got him out of this hell… But he wondered if he would be able to heal from this a second time… With the Soul Edge essence inside of him, he was scared purification wouldn't work… Tira had expressly stained him with this damned energy and he was scared to be destroyed now by the Holy powers of a purification… Yet maybe it was traumatism again… And his soul… Soul Edge still had a part of his soul… The part he lost by using his powers too much… And he lost Ivy's book which could have helped him… But if somehow he could merge with Soul Edge, he may regain it… Maybe he should have let Soul Edge invade him… to get his missing soul part back…

He suddenly snapped out of it.

-Damn! I'm still having those crazy ideas… Damned Soul Edge! Leave me alone!

Raphael was horrified of what he just thought and decided to change the subject and think about what mattered now. To save Amy. To see if she was alright… So after his short nap, he continued his trip, almost not taking any sleep on the way. But as he was getting farther from this nightmarish place that was Ostrheinsburg, Raphael realized he had less identity problems with Soul Edge, those were diminishing with the distance until he felt he was now completely free from it. His soul was still wounded but at least Soul Edge didn't invade it anymore.

As he approached Walachia, he felt worry for Amy but also anger. If someone had dared hurt his daughter, they will pay! He didn't fear this death punishment that he was told he would get if he came back here, in fact he didn't fear this punishment so much that he even decided to dress to provoke them: While on his way, he decided to ask a seamstress to sew bat symbols on his clothes… To show them all that he was back and that he feared no one and obeyed no one either… Nothing will keep him from seeing his daughter again! If this damn Duke had taken his daughter to make the Vampire pay, well the Vampire will make him pay even more! He had wondered if he should come incognito again but then if the Duke had captured Amy, knowing she was the Vampire's daughter, he would know his identity anyway and if Amy was lost and searching for him, he would give her some hint by being noticed. Maybe it wasn't wise but he didn't really care. No time to be wise! He had to find Amy! As for dangerous, he didn't really care about the danger of some hostilities toward him since on his way here, two people already noticed him as a malfested even if he didn't do anything and only his red eyes and pale skin scared them. Well, he did do something after one of those wanted to call the guards… He took his blood and his money. But the man had asked for it. The other only fled and Raphael continued on his way, ignoring him. Yet most people didn't see anything wrong at first with him so this costume may now provoke them… but also attract Amy… After hearing his request, the seamstress asked:

-Why do you want bat symbols on your vest?

-Because I am playing a vampire in a play with my theatre troop.

He wondered if it was too crazy to say that but who cared… He wouldn't hide.

-And your troop doesn't make its own costumes? Not that I don't want the job, just asking…

-Well, we have so many costumes to do right now and not enough seamstresses, so we have to ask outside.

-Ah, very well. You know, my husband works metal, he could make some bat symbols on your armour parts if you wish… I think it would look great…

-Yes, indeed! That would be great! How much?

-Oh, not much… I'll ask him.

The seamstress went to see her husband and they both agreed on a price with Raphael then began to work on it while Raphael sat on a chair and waited. He wondered again if this little provocation was kind of futile and even dangerous, also making him lose time to save Amy, but then he told himself the same reasons he had before: It was useful to attract Amy and to show he feared no one. Since he slept so few those last days, Raphael suddenly felt very sleepy on the chair as he waited. He tried to resist but fell asleep. The seamstress came to wake him after some hours. Raphael's head was now leaning on the table beside the chair, resting on his arms.

-Sir? Sir? I have finished…

Raphael woke up with a start. He violently pushed the seamstress away before he realized where he was.

-Oh… I am deeply sorry, madame… I thought I was… somewhere else…

Still thinking he was in his cell, he had thought she was one of the guards taking him to be tortured. He quickly got up and helped the fallen lady to get up.

-I'm sorry… I didn't mean to hurt you…

-No problem… Well, your clothes are done, mister… said the seamstress, wondering where he thought he was.

-Ah, very well… Merci…

-Follow me to the counter, please.

As the lady was taking him to the counter where the vest was, she explained to him:

-I sew the bat symbols upside down to make like real bats. They sleep upside down and stand upside down when they don't fly… My husband did the same with the armour…

Raphael gazed at the costume.

-Nice job! I am impressed! You work fast and it is very nicely done!

-Thank you sir, but don't you think your costume would have better fit if you would have played the vampire hunter part?

-Maybe next time, I'll play a vampire hunter…

-And take out all my pretty bat symbols now that it's done? I worked hard for it…

-Well then, maybe I'll keep the vampire role…

I'll probably keep it… thought Raphael with some annoyance. The husband then came with his apprentice to hand over the armour parts to Raphael. Raphael was also very pleased with those and paid the couple with a nice tip for the speed and quality of the work. Anyway his last victim had the means to do so… He had carefully chosen his victims so that they had enough money to supply for his trip. He made very few victims on his way here since he feared that the Soul Edge followers may follow him with that hint and since every time he drank blood, he would give some power to Soul Edge and it really wasn't the time for it to be revived… He still tried to not kill his victims along the way but had failed miserably.

-Thank you sir! A nice tip! said the husband, all happy about it. My wife told me about your play, when will it be? Will it be here? In our village? We would like to see it!

-Ah… Non. Sadly it will be some cities away… Now if you'll excuse me, I have to go…

He thought: For your own sake, the show is better from a distance…

After some more days, Raphael finally reached Walachia. He gazed at the capital, the beautiful city of Târgoviste from the top of a cliff, on his horse.

-Humpf! The Duke exiled me forever yet he or someone else captured my daughter and they think I won't do a thing about it? I won't dare come back? Whoever hurt my daughter shall suffer…

Raphael gazed at Amy's pink ribbon that he preciously kept in his hand.

-I shall save you, Amy…

Raphael then began to ride down the mountain toward the city to inform himself about Amy.

Once in the city, he went to a bar. He asked the barman who was the actual ruler and the man told him. A certain Radu X Serban, who currently resided in his holiday home and not at the royal castle. Raphael learned where was that holiday home and went out of the bar.

-Radu X Serban… Very well… I shall pay a visit to this Radu… and I shall kill him if he cannot give me back, Amy…

He was almost convinced that the Duke had Amy and if not, the Duke had the means to know where she was, it was the most direct way. It was also a good thing that he was at his holiday home since it will probably be less guarded in case of trouble… Raphael arrived at the holiday home; a beautiful mansion with a fountain in front of it. He got down from his horse and knocked.

-What do you want? asked the butler with some disdain in his voice.

-I want to see the Duke. Radu X Serban.

-He never receives anybody in his holiday home. Go away! You don't even have the right to come here!

-I won't go. I demand to see him. Go get him at once, servant! I order you!

-How dare you speak on that tone? Get away! Guards! Take this man out of the property!

And some guards quickly came.

-Oh non, you don't! Not until I get my child back!

Raphael then entered the mansion and fought with the guards before he went toward the stairs where he thought the Duke must be. Some more guards interposed but the angry vampire took care of them all in a violent confrontation. But as he saw the blood flow, he became more crazy and began to also bite his enemies during combat, still unable to control himself in front of the blood, killing and biting, drinking the blood of people who fell down while he didn't even take the time to see if they were dead or not, being too busy with other guards. Then after he had beaten everybody opposing him, he climbed the stairs, searching for the Duke. He killed almost everyone he met who dared oppose him but let the others who didn't fight, flee. He only wanted the Duke. As he interrogated some wounded guard about the Duke, the guard told him that the Duke was not here at the moment, he was at an evening party with his wife. Raphael let the man fall down on the floor and sat on an armchair, quite annoyed.

-Well then, I shall wait for him…

When they came back, Duke Radu and his wife were really surprised to find all those corpses in the entrance.

-Oh my God! What happened here? asked Radu in horror while his wife, who was suddenly not feeling well, clang to him.

But the Duke and Duchess suddenly heard some steps coming from the second floor; they stared at the balcony and saw a blond man wearing a costume with many bat symbols on it. Seeing his evil air, they made a step back.

-Duke Radu X Serban, I presume?

-Yes… What do you want? Why have you caused such a carnage?

-They attacked me. It just degenerated into a general fight. But I wanted to see you. I wanted to question you…

-Did you kill everybody in the house?

-Non… Some escaped or… are now my minions.

Those who were bitten and survived had turned into minions. Raphael got annoyed at first of those minions he made without realizing since he feared another part of his soul would go to Soul Edge, then he thought that they could be useful so he decided he would keep those but not make new ones.

-What did you do with my daughter? asked the Duke very nervously and now seeing indeed some of his personnel come by Raphael's side, now having very pale skin and yellow eyes.

-I have seen a child's room but I let the little child inside sleep quietly… I only closed the door so that she would not see certain things… She may be the only one remaining alive and well here…

Noticing that Raphael had try to spare his daughter from the sight of what happened, the Duke asked him with some nervousness:

-… Can you give me back my daughter? Please?

Raphael's face hardened.

-Non.

Radu became even more nervous.

-…Please… Give me my daughter… Don't hurt her… Give me my little Maria, I beg of you!

-Maria… Same name as my mother… muttered Raphael before he shouted:

-Give me back my daughter and I shall give you back yours!

-Your daughter? I don't know where she is… I don't even know who your daughter is! Or who you are!

-Oh, Indeed. I haven't presented myself. I am Raphael Sorel, the Lord of the Night as your peasants called me. Or simply the Vampire. I ruled over some village from Vlad Tepes' castle. Many people think I am dead but I am not. Amy is the name of my daughter. A little red-haired girl… About fourteen years old, maybe fifteen, sixteen, seventeen… How much time have I spent there? Whatever, you must know my Amy! She was a vampire like me, but she is not anymore! Someone told me you have her! I came to take her back!

Raphael really had the impression only two or three years must have passed since his captivity. Having had to live in his past to somehow try to forget all the tortures he was subjected to for so long and spending much of his time unconscious as well, he was completely confused on time. His appearance didn't help to know how much time had passed since he hadn't realized he had stopped aging. He was now looking very angry as he spoke to the Duke. Radu answered him on a desperate tone:

-I don't have your daughter!

-You don't? You lie! Liar! Give me back Amy! Or tell me what you did to her! Did you kill her?

Raphael's eyes glowed in anger at the thought that his daughter would have been hurt. But Duke Radu also grew impatient and ordered Raphael on a authoritarian tone:

-Give me back my daughter! I can't tell you about your daughter, I don't know anything about her! I don't have her! I do not know what happened to your daughter but give me mine!

-Well then, discover what happened to mine… Discover it quickly or you shall never see yours again…

Prince Radu was horrified while his wife fell unconscious screaming her daughter's name.

-Now, get out of the manor… coldly ordered Raphael. It is mine, as long as you don't give me back my daughter…

Prince Radu stared at Raphael with despair and fear. While he hesitated, Raphael added:

-Get out. Find my daughter, quickly or I cannot guarantee anything for yours…

Radu made some steps back, holding his unconscious wife in his arms.

-I shall be back with information about your daughter… But please, don't hurt Maria!

-I won't… if you truly try to help me… But since I understand your fear, I shall allow you to send a maid, a human maid, to take care of your little girl as long as you don't find anything on my daughter or give her back to me… I do not trust my minions will be able to carry on the job without biting her… So send some human maid to take care of her if you wish. But only one shall be allowed to enter here. I can guarantee her safety, do not worry… And do not try to besiege the manor… it would not be very wise…

-Very well… I shall try to find out about your daughter… and I shall send you a maid very soon…

Duke Radu then left the manor with his unconscious wife.

Raphael didn't really want to keep the little girl but he knew that the Duke would not leave him in peace if he didn't have some hostage… and it may be a way to force him to find Amy… Otherwise no one would care about her or about him… He had to force them. For Amy's sake, he would do anything.


In some manor not too far from the Duke's holiday home, Duke Radu X Serban had convoked some mercenaries. Chased from his own mansion, he took refuge at one of his subject's mansion, Baron Károly, who had suggested him to use some mercenaries he had heard about.

A young man with black and white hair and a young lady with white hair were sitting in front of him in the salon. He had offered them some wine as he was explaining what he wanted from them and the young woman was staring at her glass with attention.

-I am glad you came. When I learned about your mercenary group and that you were staying near here, I had to ask for your services for a most important task: To free my daughter from… Maybe you will not believe me, but here in Walachia, we are used to this kind of… creature and with what is happening since many years, the malfested plague, I think you may believe me if I tell you it is a vampire. Well, many vampires in fact since the leader turned many of my staff into vampires as well.

Duke Radu nodded sadly as he still couldn't believe what happened before he continued:

-Having a woman in your team is a rare thing but it will be useful here. The vampire abducting my daughter allowed me to send a maid to take care of her. But only one. If this woman could fight, it would be for the best. Then we would already have someone inside, protecting my daughter and getting her out of there. I have my troops on the ready and once the maid got out with my daughter, we could attack freely.

As the Duke explained the facts to the mercenaries, the Duchess was crying behind on a sofa.

-I would have stayed with her… Why didn't you leave me there, Radu? Oh, my poor Maria…!

The Duke turned toward her:

-I do not want to lose you too, Ilinca. With all those vampires roaming the manor… and like I told them, if the woman knows how to fight, it will be better…

While the Duke spoke to his wife, the young man turned toward his companion, who really seemed riveted to her glass, even more than to the Duke's speech.

-Are you okay, Viola?

-Somehow, red wine reminds me of something… Yet, I cannot say what… Did I like it? Did something happen when I was drinking wine? It is special… Something troubles me with this…

-What if you were an alcoholic?

-No. It's far deeper than that… I think.

The Duke turned back to them:

-So, do you think you could do this mission?

Zwei asked:

-Sorry, I didn't catch all that. Why is this vampire abducting your daughter and allowing a maid to take care of the child? Why did he capture her in the first place?

-He wants his daughter back.

-Then why don't you give her back to him? Has she done something?

-Because I don't have her! I don't even know who he is talking about! A girl of about fourteen to seventeen years old… Red-haired… I know the Vampire's name is Raphael Sorel. We had problems with him in the past. Seventeen years ago. But he got killed. Yet it is not uncommon for a vampire to return, this I am not surprised. But we never had anything about a daughter of his in our files about him…

Since Raphael always kept Amy's existence secret for her safety, it was only when Princess Hilde invaded with her troops that Amy's existence was revealed and since the Duke let them go secretly, no file had ever been done on Amy. Of course, the peasants used as minions in the castle knew about her but no one had recorded it somewhere since the Duke kept it all secret. Not knowing that fact, the actual Duke could not make any researches on Raphael's daughter.

-Yet if she is fourteen to seventeen years old, she was probably born after the events, seventeen years ago. So if she was born after the time the Vampire was killed, he have reasons to not have any informations on her. He claims she is human but was vampire. And with a name like Amy, I wonder if she was born to a British mother…

-So she was purified? asked Zwei, trying to clarify things.

-Probably.

-Then maybe she was born just before the Vampire got killed… She was born as a vampire but became human… suggested the black and white haired man. Then she would be seventeen…

-Maybe… But then why have we got no informations on her? The Vampire himself seemed confused about her age… He said something like how many time have I spent there or something… It may have hinted to the girl's age… I think she is younger than seventeen. I'm sorry, I haven't asked all the questions I should have… I was out of my mind… and he didn't seem very patient…

Zwei turned toward Viola.

-This isn't good… Do you have any flash?

Viola nodded negatively.

-Well, I guess we'll do with what we have…

-Yes, please free my daughter! Anyway it is not to find his daughter that I hired you, but to save mine! I don't really believe I will find anything about his daughter… I even wonder if his daughter wants to even see him… What if she was born from a now purified mother who hated the Vampire? What matters most is my daughter's safety. Please save her…


Duke Radu X Serban really had a wife named Ilinca and a daughter named Maria, except I don't know what was her age but since she was the oldest and her little sister was born in 1610, I assume she was not very old.

That vampires stop aging is not absolutely a reliable fact since many people have been accused to be vampires and of course aged.