Chapter 21: Vampire of the Castle 1

On the train

Everyone decides that Lavi would be able to bring back after noticing that she didn't board the train.

"You mean me?" Lavi asks.

"Please Lavi! Alice must have missed the train back at the last station. Go back and find her!" Leenalee says with panic and worry.

"What is she, a little kid?" Lavi mumbles.

Bookman starts to nudge Lavi with his foot.

"Go. You can that stick of yours to fly to her." Bookman says.

"It's a hammer, Panda." Lavi corrects Bookman angrily. "Fine, fine~~~ I has a bad feeling 'bout this tho~~" Lavi says as he takes out Iron Hammer.

"I'm coming as well!" Allen says and Lavi nods

~Few Hours Before~
At the station

Alice misses the train that everyone is on because a man pins her down on the train platform.

"The train… left…" Alice says as she stops struggling.

"I'm very sorry, Miss Clergywoman." The man apologizes. "But! You are urgently needed here as well…" The man let go of Alice and bows on his knees in front of Alice.

"PLEASE DO SOMETHING TO SAVE OUR VILLAGE, MISS BLACK CLERGYWOMAN!" The man begs.

"Eh? Clergywoman?" Alice says.

In the village

"Sorry it's so late… I am the mayor of this village, the name's Georg." Georg introduces himself. "EVERYONE! OUR PRAYERS HAVE BEEN ANSWERED! A BLACK CLERGYWOMAN HAS ARRIVED–!" He announces to the people. Alice eyes widen at the situation.

"UWO―!" The people cheer. "IT'S A MIRACLE! MIRACLE!" They all run up to Alice which scares her. "IT'S A LADY CLERGYWOMAN–!" The group of people surrounds Alice and ties her to a chair with no reason. Georg explains their situation and Alice looks at them with disbelief.

"A vampire?" Alice says as she looks at the group of people with confusion.

"Yes." Georg replies. He looks up with a grave looks on his face. "For as long as anyone can remember, a fearsome vampire has live beyond this village! Its name is Baron Krory." Georg begins. "You never see him out during the daytime. During the night, human screams can always be heard from the castle. They say that those who enter the castle never came out alive..." Alice looks at him with a nonchalant look.

"No way... A vampire, in this day and age?" Alice says and Georg stares at her. "Sorry... please continue."

"But, as long as we stayed away from the castle, we were in no danger of being attacked by Krory." Georg continues. "Krory lived quietly in his castle. Then one night, suddenly... The first victim was an old maid. Krory killed the old woman by sucking her life blood until her body evaporated."

~Georg's Memory~
In the woods; at night

Georg and his people see Krory sucking the old maid dry. When Krory stands up, the old woman's body has evaporates. Smoke rising from the corpse.

"Kr… Baron Krory!?" Georg stammers.

Baron Krory turns around, baring his fangs.

~Present~

"No wa–y…" Lavi says with an unbelieving look. Georg and his people are all surprise, but Alice is calm as if she expects him to arrive. Allen is behind Alice, undoing the rope that binds Alice to the chair.

"WH… WHO'S THIS GUY!?"

"Lavi, Allen! What are you guys doing here?" Alice says as Allen finishes untying the ropes.

"I came to look for you." Lavi replies. "I couldn't just leave my Alice alone~" Alice smiles weirdly and ignores what Lavi just said.

"Anyways," Allen changing the subject. "Why are you doing here, Alice?" Allen asks Alice.

"AH! MAYOR! ON THESE TWO YOUNG MEN'S CHEST…!"

"AHA!" Georg says as he looks at Allen's and Lavi's uniform. "IT'S TWO MORE CLERGYMEN!" Georg points at the two male Exorcists which result in all three Exorcists tie up to the chair.

"So, what exactly is going on?" Allen asks.

"Actually, just before Krory turned violent, there was another traveler who visited this village."

"Another traveler?" Alice says.

"That's right. The traveler was a priest who asked for directions to Krory's Castle. We desperately tried to stop him, and told him that he'd died of he went. He was laughing as he went for the castle. After three days had passed, when we thought he had been killed by Krory… The traveler came back!"

~Georg's Memories~
At the station

"You… You're all right…" Georg says in disbelief as he follows the traveler to the station platform.

"Lunch box merchant. If anything happens to the Master of that castle… Tell someone who wears a uniform and cross like mine." The traveler says.

"And with that, the traveler just left." The present Georg says.

~Present~

"That's the solution he gave up. If we just waited, eventually someone like him would right that train here." Georg says as the three Exorcists' eyes widens as they hear about the traveler. "After a while, Krory starts attacking the villagers. So far, nine villagers have fallen prey to him…"

Behind Georg, the people start to shout all their complaints about Baron Krory.

"Tonight, we made a resolution to risk our lives to slay Krory. BUT!" Georg says.

"I have a bad feeling about this…" Allen thought.

"GOD HAS NOT ABANDONED US! MASTERS AND LADY BLACK CLERGY! PLEASE DO SOMETHING TO GET RID OF KRORY–!" Georg begs as everyone - including himself - all got onto their knees and bow to the three Exorcists.

"But we specialize in Akuma…" Lavi says bluntly. Georg pops up.

"INCREDIBLE! YOU CAN EVEN EXORCISE DEMONS! YOUR HEARTS ARE SO STRONG!" He shouts with hope.

"No… not that kind of Akuma…" Lavi says.

"By the way…" Allen speaks. "What kind of person was he, that 'traveler'…?" She asks.

"This kind of person!" Georg says with a drawing in his hands. Georg drew a large picture of someone familiar. That 'traveler' just happens to be Cross Marian.

"I guess we'll help you 'get rid' of Baron Krory." Alice says. "What about you two?"

"I'll help." Lavi says with no hesitation. "What about you Allen?"

"Huh? I'll go as well." Allen answers.

Georg looks at them with hope and gave the three Exorcists the address to Baron Krory's Castle.

On the way to Baron Krory's Castle

Lavi has his golem out and calls Leenalee to explain her the situation.

"I see… I guess we should obey orders, since they were left by General Cross." Leenalee says.

"Leenalee." Alice calls. "You, Bookman, and Timcanpy should go on ahead." She suggests.

"Okay. Be careful you three." Leenalee says. "You'll become vampires too if you let that… vampire guy bit you. Don't become one, okay!?"

"Right…" The three Exorcists answers.

"Leenalee believes in those vampire stories…" The three Exorcists thought together.

"There's no such thing as vampires, right Allen?" Lavi whispers.

"Right." Allen whispers back.

"You scared, Lavi?" Alice teases.

"No!" Lavi whispers back and Alice giggles.

Suddenly, the three Exorcists are pull back together that are tie together around their wrists.

"YOU THREE! STOP!" Georg says as he pulls the three ropes back toward him. "We've reached the gates of Baron Krory's Castle."

The three Exorcists look up at the gates.

"He's got bad taste." They thought as they stare at the gate.

"Beyond these gates lies Krory's Garden of Demons. Beyond that is the castle where he lives, perched above the lake." Georg explains. Suddenly, there are screams and shouts coming from the castle and Allen and Lavi shudder in fear.

"FORWARD!"

"YE–YES…!" The male Exorcists answers.

They open the gates and walk into the 'Garden of Demon'.

In Baron Krory's Garden of Demons

The garden is decorated with statues of demons.

"This Krory really has bad taste…" Alice says as she looks around the garden. "Huh? Allen, why did you already take off your glove? Lavi, why do you have your right hand on your weapon?" She asks. "Are you two scared?"

"No. We're not scared." Allen and Lavi answers Alice. "Aren't you scared Alice?" They ask her.

She looks at them with a nonchalant expression.

"Nope. It's not scary at all if you think about it–"

"HUH!" The three Exorcist say.

They suddenly turn serious and look around cautiously.

"What's wrong?" Georg asks. Lavi hold up a finger to his lips. "SHH! SOMETHING'S HERE."

"It's coming closer… be ready…" Alice adds as she gets ready to activate Silver.

Suddenly, a blur passes the three Exorcists and the villagers.

"So fast!" Alice thought as she turns around.

"Just now, I smell a sweet scent…" Georg says as he touches his nose.

"GYA―!" Person B screams from the back of the group. "FR… FRANZ…" He calls as his eyes widens in horror.

"IT GOT FRANZ!" Person C shouts.

Allen, Lavi, and Alice all turn around in surprise and rush to the back of the group. Their eyes widen from the sight of a black cloak man. The black cloaked man turns around with a man - Franz - in his mouth.

"IT'S ARYSTAR KRORY!"

At the Black Order Headquarters; In the Science Division

"Squad Leader Reever–" Johnny calls.

"Yeah?" Reever replies, as he writes into a book quickly. "What is it? I'm a bit busy, can't take my hands off this chemical formula, so just talk–" He continues to scribble into the book about the chemical formulas.

"It just that I was looking something up, and while I was reading, this old investigation document came up…" Johnny says as he trembles from the lack of sleep.

"Eh–" Reever said, still scribbling into the book.

"But the Supervisor's seal isn't on it, so it looks like sort of unattended to. I was wondering if it's okay to throw it out?"

"You idiot– If it hasn't been dealt with, then deal with it."

"Eh– But it's been eight years since–"

"What's in it? Anything particular~?" Reever asks. Johnny raises the documents up for a closer look and read the title to Reever.

"Vampire Folklore…" Johnny reads.

"I'm back–" Komui says. "Everyone~ Are you all being worked like a good slaves~~~?"

"Welcome back, Supervisor." Reever greets as Komui walks in front of him. "Sorry to be hasty, but are there any records on something like vampire folklore?"

"What is it? You got work for me already?" Komui asks. "Reever, you demon." He mumbles.

Then Komui stops and thought of something.

"Hm? Vampire?" Komui says, thinking of anything that Reever asks. "Ah– I remember. Someone by the name of Baron Krory or something, right?"

"Huh? You know about it? Has it been processed?" Johnny asks.

"That had nothing to do with Innocence whatsoever." Komui answers as he holds up a flask with the label 'Coffee', on it. "The few Finders who went to investigate it at the time became its prey." he grabs his coffee cup, but the flask is empty and stares at it. "Lots of effort with nothing to show for it. It was really disappointing."

"He said 'prey'…" Scientist A says as every scientist in the room except Reever, look at Komui with terror.

"But that took place almost eight years ago now…" Komui says. "Squad Leader Reever, coffee!"

"I can't take my hands away from this now…" Reever answers. Komui then attacks Reever, stopping him from his work just so Komui could have his cup of coffee. Off to the side, Johnny is looking through the papers with confusion.

"Why is there an article about a vampire in this book?" Johnny thought as he put the papers away and looks at the book. "Botanical of the Ancient... What does it have to do with this...?"

At Baron Krory's Mansion; In the Garden of Demons

When the three Exorcists turn around to see Franz's neck in Baron Krory's mouth, Lavi and Allen drop their jaws while Alice widens her eyes. Baron Krory is a tall lean man with very facial features, pointed ears and sharp, long, pointed fangs. He has short black hair with a long white streak which stands up on end. The sclera and pupils of his eyes are black and his irises are dull yellow.

"No way…" Alice mumbles in disbelief to what she is seeing.

Then Baron Krory starts to make sucking sounds, drinking Franz's blood.

"SH–U–RP!SL–U–R–P! SSL–U―R―P―!" Baron Krory then swallows the blood and stared 'hungrily' at the Exorcists and the villagers.

"UWA…" Person A sqeals. "UWA–…"

This made everyone panic in fear; making them all turn around, running towards the trees. The villagers all scream as they run away, leaving the Exorcists behind.

"UWA―! I DON'T WANT TO DIE–!" Someone screams as he runs away.

As the villagers flee from the area, the Exorcists start to compose themselves slowly.

"UWA–! HELP!" Someone wails.

"DON'T RUN, YOU GUYS!" Someone else yells.

Once the villagers' screams couldn't hear anymore, Alice activates Silver (bow form), Allen activates Cross Beta (the cannon), and Lavi activates Iron Hammer.

"Activate!" The three Exorcists thought in unison as they hold out their Anti-Akuma Weapon, pointing it at Krory.

"How do we do this?" Allen asks.

"'How'? You say...?" Alice says.

"If we get bitten, Leenalee's never gonna talk to us again." Lavi reminds.

"But anyhow, even if a vampire needs to feed on people," Allen says as he drives Cross Beta into the ground. "I can't let innocent villagers get killed!"

Allen shoots into the ground, creating a wall of rocks which Krory manages to evade. As Krory is still in air - because he evades Allen's attack by jumping backwards - Lavi starts to tells Iron Hammer to grow.

"Grow! Grow! Grow! Grow! Grow! Grow!" Lavi shouts as Iron Hammer grows the size of a large building.

Lavi starts to attacks and Baron Krory didn't evade the attack. Lavi's creates a cloud of smoke.

"HOW'D YOU LIKE THAT!?" Lavi exclaims as the cloud starts to disappear.

Once the smoke lifted, the Exorcists' eyes widen as they see Krory who manage to catch and holds of Iron Hammer in his teeth.

"NO WAY…" Lavi says in disbelief to what he is seeing. "WHOA, CHECK OUT THOSE TEETH!"

Krory bends backwards, spitting Iron Hammer out of his mouth and throwing it - with Lavi on top - away as if it is a piece of trash. Lavi grunts. Suddenly, underneath Baron Krory's feet is Cross Alpha (Allen's left arm) rises up from the ground and catches Krory and Alice points Silver (twin swords form) just a few inches away from Krory's neck.

"Got you." Allen mutters.

"Now behave." Alice says. Krory stares at Allen wickedly.

"GUHUU- KYAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA! AHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA!" Baron Krory laughs. "STRANGE CHILDREN! STOP WASTING MY TIME! YOU THREE ARE MONSTERS TOO! HM!?" He shouts.

"We're Exorcists." Allen corrects.

"Good evening." Krory mocks. "I'm busy. SO LET GO OF ME!"

Krory suddenly bites Allen's Cross on the finger. Allen's eyes widen in shock.

"GEH!?" Allen grunts.

"My Anti-Akuma Weapon- with his teeth!? For real!?" Allen thought.

"S–L–U―RP!" Krory drinks from Allen's blood.

"WA–H– ALLEN!" Lavi shouts in horror.

As Krory drinks Allen's blood, this causes an adverse reaction in himself.

"Ugh-" Baron Krory gags. "G–E―H! BITTER!" He screams.

Krory escapes from Allen's grasps and he starts to spit.

"OUE―!" Krory runs toward the woods.

"WA-WASH BASIN!" He yells as he disappears through the woods. "G–E–H!"

Krory's 'retreat' made the three Exorcists silent. They didn't expect to see that reaction from him as he has been intimating before he bit Allen's finger. Allen deactivates Cross and he and Alice look at his bitten finger.

"She's never gonna talk to you again Allen, you're gonna be excommunicated!" Lavi tells Allen.

Inside of Baron Krory's Castle

Baron Krory enters a room, slamming the door behind him. He walks to the alter, placed on the opposite side of the room, kneeling in front of it as he continues to gag out Allen's blood. Baron Krory's appearance had change. He still has short black hair, but with long white streak which falls in front of his face and doesn't stand on the end. The scleras of his eyes are white, his pupils are black and his irises are a dark-silver-color; making his eyes seem more human rather than vampire. On the floor behind him, is Franz corpse that Krory "killed".

"G–E–H!" Krory chokes. "OUE―!"

His gagging could hear throughout the castle. There is a knock on the door. It opens and inside, Baron Krory has stop gagging and is breathing heavily.

"HA- HA- HA-"

"Welcome back, Master Arystar." A woman greets as she walks closer to where Baron Krory is, stopping in front of the corpse. "What happened to make you tear up like that?" The woman asks him.

"Ha- Ha- Ha-" Baron breaths.

The woman bends her legs a bit, supporting her weight by putting her hands on her knees.

"Oh my." The woman says as she stares at the corpse's expression - eyes' wide, mouth opens.

"Eliade…" Baron Krory calls. His voice shakes as he speaks again; also he starts to tearing up. "I… I… I… I was… Again… Va… Va… I became a vampire again…"