Castlevania: Legacy of Darkness

by victor-cardigan

Adapted from the game of the same name. Chronicles the quests of Cornell, Reinhardt, Carrie, and Henry. R&R if possible.

25. The Return Home

Chapter 24: The Return Home

When Carrie awoke she felt a familiar burning sensation in her hands. When she opened her eyes and looked at her hands they pulsating with power. The two men that had been kneeling over Carrie staggered backwards. The older of the two had fiery hair and a red scarf around his neck. The other was blond and had blue eyes. She looked into them and saw something familiar in them. But the suit of armor he wore did not allow her to relax. The battle with the two-headed dragon had drained her. Drained her of what she did not know. Carrie looked past the two men and saw five figures lying asleep together. The children were safe and dreaming, peacefully she hoped. The fire she felt in her hands receded, as did the glow.

"What is your name?" asked the blond-haired man.

"Carrie," she whispered exhaustingly.

"My name is Henry." He then gestured to the man standing next to him, "his name is Reinhardt."

"What do you want? Why are you here?"

"Well, believe it or not, we here for you. We came to rescue you."

Carrie had let loose a grin. "Rescue?"

"We realize we haven't done such a good job, in fact none at all, but it is our job to get you home. At least, that is my job. Reinhardt and I just did not know that one of the children we had to rescue was a sorceress."

"I'm not a sorceress."

"Your actions say otherwise. Perhaps you are a sorceress in training?"

"No." Carrie then sat on her knees and placed her head in her hands. "I just got angry. Very angry." Carrie clutched her head and began to run the past two days through her mind. She remembered the village. Demons, ghosts, and skeleton warriors burned it to the ground. How many people had died? She could not imagine. All she knew was that among those dead was her mother. Her anger was replaced by sadness. She remembered the anger she felt. It had been so powerful. Something inside her had been awakened. A power that she never knew that she had. She looked at the children asleep and became filled with resolve. She would get the children of her town home safely. She stood up and looked at the two men before her.

"I don't know where I got this power, but I'm getting these children home. All of them."

Henry smiled. "In that respect, we might be able to help you." Henry walked over to a backpack and reached into it. When his hand reemerged he had in his hand a beautiful white jewel. He stretched out his hand for Carrie to see it.

"What is it?"

"This jewel is our way of sending these children home."

"How?"

"Magic."

Carrie looked at him mistrustfully. "How do I know you are telling the truth?"

"We already sent one of the children back. Her name was Bess."

"Bess?" Carrie seemed relieved for a moment. "I lost track of her when we came into the castle. She ran off."

"Well she's alright now. Look into the crystal and see." Henry closed his eyes and focused his mind on the place where he knew Bess would be resting. After a brief flash Bess appeared on the faces of the jewel. She was resting peacefully, a nun sitting by her side.

"We can send all of the children to where Bess is. The church mounted this mission. They can all be safe alongside Bess. All they need to do is touch the crystal. Then our mission can be halfway done."

Carrie examined Henry's face. Then she turned to the children. Carrie nodded in agreement. Walking over to where the children slept she woke them up one by one. When they were all awake she addressed them all at once.

"These men here came to take you home. They know how to do some magic which will make you all appear somewhere safe."

"All you have to do is hold each other's hands. Then one of you just has to touch the crystal," Henry added.

"You heard him. All of you hold hands." The children then began to hold hands. Carrie smiled inwardly as she noticed that no boy was holding any other boy's hand. It was boy girl, boy girl all the way through. The one closest to her was Edward.

"All right Edward. You touch the crystal. You always did like being first."

The boy smiled. Then he asked, "Aren't you coming along too?"

"I'll be going soon. I just have to stay awhile. Don't worry, any of you." She smiled and patted him on the head. The boy looked at the jewel. Henry stretched out his hand out so Edward could touch it. Slowly Edward reached out. On the face of the jewel was still the image of a sleeping Bess. When Edward's finger finally touched the crystal a brilliant flash of light filled the chamber. When it dissipated all of the children had gone as though they had never been there. The image on the crystal was the same except that now Bess was joined by all of the other children. On the crystal Carrie could see that the children wasted no time in waking up Bess. Carrie felt relieved.

"Alright. Now it's your turn," Reinhardt said.

Carrie turned and protested immediately. "No. I have to go on."

"Not a chance. Your place is with the other children," Reinhardt answered.

"Don't treat me like a child. I watched demons murder my mother. I watched my home burned to the ground. I even watched as demons made my friends march to this hellhole! Do not lecture me or order me like a little child."

Reinhardt stood silent for a moment. Henry looked at him and considered for a moment as a man that had been put in his place. But what Reinhardt said next assured Henry that this twelve-year-old girl had done nothing but raise her voice.

"Fine. Disobey one of my instructions or run off on your own and I promise I will cut your legs off and send you through the crystal myself. We were sent here to rescue you, not send you to an early grave."

Now Carrie stood silent. Reinhardt walked away towards the opening in the wall. He stood and watched the castle as though it might suddenly attack. Henry came up behind him.

"A little ruthless aren't we?"

"Have to be."

"I thought I had come to understand you, but now you have surprised me."

"I don't like to endanger the lives of children."

"So cut off her legs and send her through."

"Don't tempt me." Reinhardt stayed silent for a moment. "We might need her. If she has that much power, she could help us get past certain large and very ugly obstructions." Reinhardt turned and walked over to Carrie.

"There are no more children, is that correct Henry?"

"Actually" Carrie said. "You are missing one more."

"How can that be? I counted seven children, including you."

"There is another boy, Malus. I don't know much about him. Somehow I only first met him a few days ago."

"Who were his parents?" Henry asked.

"I don't know. Whoever they were they must have had him locked up because I had never seen him before. But he is here. I saw them take him."

Reinhardt stood motionless while he considered this new piece of information. Finally, he looked at both Henry and Carrie.

"Alright Carrie. You come with us. However, you do everything we say, no arguments. If I am going to have you, tagging along it will be on my terms. You stick close to either Henry or me. If we get separated then you stay where you are and scream until we find you. Is that understood?"

"Fine."

"Good," Reinhardt said. "Now we move on."

"Where too?" Henry asked.

"The villa."

"Home again," Henry whispered under his breath.

The morning light made the entrance to the villa look both deserted and beautiful at the same time. After years without a single care from anyone, Henry's old home was made into shambles. As they crossed through outer gates immediately in front of the castle wall Henry felt a weird sense of déjà vu and at the sametime as though this was his first time here. When they reached the inner circle Henry felt a part of him unable to continue. The twelve year-old child inside him was afraid. However, brave Ada might have told that he was, he knew better. Under all of that bravery was just a frightened child.

"In our hearts of hearts, we are all afraid Henry. Overcoming our fears makes us brave. Never forget that."

Those words spoken to him long ago rang in his ears. "Cornell," Henry said to himself. His man-wolf friend forgot his own wisdom. For awhile it seemed that Cornell's words to him were untrue. Now he would prove them again. For Cornell. For Ada. Henry continued to walk ahead and joined Reinhardt and Carrie. Carrie sat by the large fountain whose waters were still. Leaves floated in its base and the shiny Rose brooch that that once stood at it's top had been covered by erosion. The front of the villa was covered with moss and for some reason, the various windows were bordered up with wooden boards. Henry looked around and saw several gravestones placed around the front lawn. He walked over to the one closest to him. Written upon it was a single sentence.

"Mary, beloved wife."

Carrie heard a soft noise from where Henry was standing. As Reinhardt examined the other gtavestones Carrie crossed over to Henry. Although he wore a helmet, she could tell that he had tears in his eyes. Barely audible, she heard him say, "mother." Henry then moved onto the next grave. This one stood on higher ground and had the appearance of someone important. Henry made fists with his hands as he read the marking on the grave.

"Or De Rais, lord of this mansion."

Finally, Henry walked to the grave that Reinhardt had stood by examining. Henry froze after reading the markings.

"Henry, beloved son." Reinhardt squeezed his shoulder and merely said, "This place holds many mysteries. We have to move on." Behind them Carrie sat unnoticed on the base of the fountain, playing with one of her own magical orbs of light.

Reinhardt and Henry both tore down some of the boards that covered various windows. They peered inside but could see nothing. Reinhardt gestured toward the front door and made a sign to Henry that he would go first, then Henry, and finally Carrie. Reinhardt stared at the doorknob as his own hand came closer to it. When he finally touched it he had no need to turn it, the door slowly creaked open.

Inside the villa was very dark. Although Henry and Reinhardt brought down a few boards, very little light entered the mansion. Henry view circled the ground floor of the villa over and over again. He looked up and could see his mother's chandelier still hanging from the roof. It cost a fortune for his father to find the right packaging for it to travel from England to Wallachia undamaged. But he said it was worth it. It was the first thing that his parents bought together in their first home as newly wed. Cobwebs covered the many candle stands that decorated the ground floor.

"Alright Henry, this is where I need your expertise."

Henry came along side Reinhardt and began to identify the their surroundings. He pointed to several doors to their left, "those are the servants quarters. The door to our right is the servant's entrance. It leads to the garden maze as well as to a long path that can always take us back to the forest." Henry went up a few of the steps of the main stairway and continued. "Up these stairs and to our left is the door that will lead us into the main rooms. The bedrooms, the archive rooms, and the"

A sudden noise interrupted Henry's explanation of the villa. His foot froze above the third step of the stairs. The sound was a mix of the sound of rainfall and that of a small animal rapidly chewing its food. Henry slowly placed his foot firmly on the third step as he looked all around. In his mind he thought how his helmet limited his view. Looking at Reinhardt he found him poised and ready for whatever seemed to be coming. As the seconds ticked away Carrie could feel a growing sense of anxiousness. Ever so slightly she could feel the burning sensation in her hands that marked the start of one of her magical orbs grow. It seemed that with every growing beat of her heart she could feel her power well up inside her. Henry was pulling out his pistol when he saw Carrie's eyes widen. Carrie held back the urge to say, "Oh God."

"What is it?" Henry asked.

Reinhardt shoved Carrie behind him and looked at Henry. Dripping down the side of his helmet and the front of his armor was a stream of a dark liquid. In the dark he could not tell what color, but Reinhardt already knew it was red. As Reinhardt turned his head up he saw a shadow of a figure dive down and push Henry to the ground. Henry was yelling aloud as he felt as though a huge animal were on top of him trying break though his armor. Henry could hear that its razor sharp teeth took bite after bite into his armor without success. But with every bite he heard a shrieking noise. Through the eye openings in his helmet Henry looked into the vampire's eyes. They were bright red, like blood. Henry struggled to get the vampire off of him but its strength was immense. Finally he felt relief when he heard the vampire bellow in pain. He looked to see what had happened and saw that Reinhardt's chain whip was around its neck. As the vampire struggled to release itself from the whip's grasp it scrapped its own skin and blood began to drip. The vampire turned and pulled hard on the whip sending Reinhardt to the floor. Reinhardt lost his grip on the whip and the vampire jumped upwards into the darkness. Reinhardt could not see where the vampire was hiding, but he could see his whip hanging down. Reinhardt resisted the urge to laugh as he saw the handle of his own whip apparently flying if it's own accord. Reinhardt leapt and grabbed hold of it. Instantly he felt himself falling back to the ground and saw that he was not alone. Reinhardt landed on the steps of the main stairway, the vampire, on the other hand, landed on a post at the base of the stairs. Reinhardt stood up and pulled his sword. The vampire lay motionless impaled through the heart.

"Turn your eyes away Carrie," Reinhardt said as he raised his sword. When she did not, Henry covered her eyes. All Carrie heard was the swooping sound of Reinhardt's sword and the sound the flesh being severed. Henry looked at Reinhardt with almost admiration as he held up the vampire's head. This was living proof of what made the Belmonts renowned among vampire hunters. Henry removed his hand from Carrie's eyes after Reinhardt had thrown the head into a darkened corner. Carrie immediately marched towards Reinhardt.

"Cover my eyes?"

"I was trying to spare a disgusting sight."

"Don't bother. I will decide what I can and cannot see. I am not a child and will not be treated like one. Do you think I will not be leaving this hellish place without laying upon far worse things?"

"Perhaps. But I would save you from as many as I can. Each horrible sight will claim a part of your soul. I would rather"

Both Reinhardt and Carrie turned to their left. A growling sound emerged from the darkness that Reinhardt had thrown the head into. Slowly the figure of another vampire emerged from it, in its hands was the head of its fellow vampire. Reinhardt was preparing to shove Carrie behind him when Carrie pushed herself in front if him and outstretched her hands. Bright orbs formed around her wrists as she said, "I will not be treated like a child!" The orbs shot out from Carrie sent the vampire flying through the door and wall of one of the servant's quarters. Reinhardt stared in disbelief.

"Please be careful in which direction your point those hands," he said looking down at her. A grin appeared on Carrie's face. Reinhardt almost grinned with her but then he heard a rustling sound from the hole that Carrie had made. He gestured for both Henry and Carrie to stay still while he checked the room.

Slowly Reinhardt moved into the room through the smoke and the darkness. He squinted his eyes but it was not long before he saw the source of the rustling sound. Reinhardt looked upwards and saw a little more than a dozen figures hanging almost silently from the roof. A few wore clothes much like that of a common villager, others were bare and had large flapping wings. Reinhardt focused on one that was hanging directly above him. The vampire's face was still, apparently asleep. Reinhardt became transfixed with its stoic expression. Then he saw it. Reinhardt at first could not see it but then it he realized, its nose was twitching. The vampire exploded into life and dropped down onto the ground. It stood facing Reinhardt for a moment as though it were stretching its body and preparing to hunt him down. Reinhardt felt in his blood that these vampires had been hanging in a sort of hibernation for a long time. Perhaps eight years? Reinhardt took advantage of the vampire's stiff bones and ran back to Carrie and Henry.

"Henry! We need out of this area, now!"

Henry nodded and began to lead them up the stairs. As Henry and Carrie went up the stairs Reinhardt looked back to see the progress of the vampires. Reinhardt ducked as pieces from two of the other doors came flying towards him. Reinhardt watched in horror as vampires began to slowly crawly along the walls. In all of their eyes was the same blood red color.

Henry and Carrie reached the door to the far left of the second floor within seconds. With pistol drawn Henry kicked the door open. The door opened into a short flame lit hallway just as he remembered. Henry motioned Carrie inside and told her to not go through the next door. Henry waited patiently as Reinhardt came running up the stairs. As Reinhardt made it through the door Henry saw in his peripheral vision a large hand reaching up from the first floor. Henry looked as a hairy bat like head rose from below. Henry stared for moment then fired his pistol. The vampire's head flew off its neck and left a headless corpse hanging from the railing. Reinhardt jammed the door shut as Henry came in. Carrie already on the other side of the hall was trying to open the door but with little success. Henry and Reinhardt both rammed the door and it budged slightly. As they rammed it a second time, the first door opened slowly and vampires began to cram into the room just as slowly. The vampires were moving like small ants. All three rushed through the door and the men rammed the door shut twice, just as they had opened it. Behind them Carrie was already exploring the room they were in. Reinhardt looked at Henry puzzled by the sudden silence and by the lack of effort from the vampires. Henry walked down the small set of steps and joined Carrie in walking around the room.

"You lived here once?"

"Yes. Years ago."

Henry looked at Carrie and knew what she was asking. "This was my mother's personal garden. She tended to it herself." The garden was a circular room that had a skylight above that let the morning light creep in. In the center was a pillar with an octagonal base and flowers planted in it. Henry sat down on the steps and watched as Reinhardt examined the room closely. Carrie stood by Henry and watched. Henry felt as though Carrie was piercing through his armor and studying his face. Henry could see her eyes filled with empathy but somehow cold with sympathy.

Reinhardt looked at the red roses that were planted in the octagonal base. He felt something odd about them. Reinhardt was about to pluck one out of it's soil when he felt a cold breeze come all over him. Slowly he turned as he saw out of the corner of his eye a figure materialize slowly from grey mist. The mist took on the shape of a woman. She had blonde hair and wore a red dress that had a sort of bat-like appearance. Her skin was pale and in her hand she carried a watering pail. She walked slowly towards the flowers. Reinhardt stood his ground as she came towards him.

"I wish to water the roses. Please step aside."

Reinhardt slowly moved out of the way and let her pass. Henry and Carrie looked at her transfixed. Both of the felt as something in the room changed because of this woman's presence.

"Who are you? What are you doing here?" Reinhardt asked.

She looked at him quizzically as though she did not understand the question. "I am Rosa. I look after these white roses."

"White roses?" Reinhardt scanned the room and found no such white roses. He looked at the watering pail she had in her hand. Slowly she tipped it over the flowers and a red colored liquid began to pour over the roses.

"You are a vampire."

"Why have you no fear? None but vampires and demons live here. Wandering carelessly in this place will soon cost you your life and the life of your friends as well."

"I cannot disobey my father's teachings."

"I am a vampire. You are a hunter of vampires. Why do you not attack?"

"Another of my father's teachings."

"Such sentimentality will cost your life. I will forget I saw you, take your friends and flee now."

"The destiny of my blood means I must destroy Dracula."

Rosa looked down at the roses for a moment then she looked into Reinhardt's eyes for a moment before turning away. "As you will... First you must go to the archive room. The key to the archives..." Rosa stopped for a moment as though to remember something. "Ah yes, a previous adventurer took it."

Reinhardt looked back to Henry and Carrie who were still standing in silence.

"The vampires who were attacking you came from a village that was attacked eight years ago and brought here to serve. With no one to feed off of and no way to get off the island they were overcome with bloodlust. In order to survive they had to put themselves in hibernation. Your presence has awakened them. They are mindless, savage, and thirsty. I can help you no more so go." She paused and looked at the three of them and landed her eyes on Reinhardt. Do not lose your life too quickly..."

Rosa turned and slowly walked away. As she walked closer to the wall she became more and more transparent until finally she disappeared like mist. Reinhardt stared at the spot where she had disappeared.

"A previous adventurer?" Reinhardt said.

"Could she be lying?" Henry asked.

Reinhardt turned and walked towards the only other door in the garden. "Where does this lead?"

"The bedrooms," Henry said.

"Shouldn't have said don't lose your 'lives' too quickly?" Carrie commented looking at Reinhardt.

"Reinhardt looked at her and merely said aloud, "Stay alert."

Through the door was another small staircase that led to the third floor of the villa. Once again the walls were decorated with various paintings of different people and scenery. As they walked up the stairs Henry would every so often stare at a painting of a person. If he was saying something under his breath, Reinhardt could not hear it. At the top of the stairs was the beginning of a hallway with several doors. Henry stared into the hallway for a moment and Reinhardt felt that he saw something wrong.

"What is it?" he asked him.

"I don't know." Henry struggled to try and see what it was that bothered him so about this hall. He looked at the walls. The walls never had paintings on them so nothing was missing from them. The roof was not missing a chandelier. Henry walked further into the hall and looked down at the floor to see the sun shining down through the windows. Henry looked at the image he saw being projected onto the floor. It was the image of a knight standing tall with his sword in both hands pointing downwards. The image being projected on the ground made it seem as though the knight was sleeping. Henry looked at the knight's closed eyes and remembered.

"These are not the windows I remember from childhood." Then the eyes on the knight slowly opened and the mouth curved into an angry frown. The sound of glass shattering echoed through the hall, as glass knights seemed to break through their reflections on the floor. Henry and Reinhardt jumped back. Henry fell to the ground as he felt the sharp thrust of a sword strike his armor. From the ground he pulled out his pistol and fired at the glass knight. The nearest knight burst into shards of glass. The second glass knight raised it's sword and went charging towards him and ran directly into another bullet. Henry became showered by sharps pieces of glass. Henry stood up and wiped the pieces of glass off of him.

"Are you alright?" Reinhardt asked.

"My armor is holding up. It would just be interesting to know the reason why the demons we have run into so far seem t attack the man in armor first."

Reinhardt patted him on the shoulder. "Which way to the archives?"

Henry pointed down the hall. "I think we should check all the rooms before moving on," Carrie said. "Remember that we have to keep an eye out for Malus."

"She has a point." Reinhardt said. "Let's try the first door over here."

"That's the guest room. I knew a friend who slept there once."

Carrie walked over and opened the door before they could. Reinhardt had a look of dissatisfaction on his face. He was intent on keeping the girl safe. Inside the room it was just like Henry said, a guestroom. The front area was a small set of chairs with a table to sit around for pleasant conversation. The back area had a good-sized bed. In the back and to the right was another door. This door Reinhardt reached before Carrie could.

"Back" he said. Carrie looked at him and said, "I sincerely doubt there is someone waiting specifically behind that door just for us to open it."

"She's right Reinhardt. That is just the reading room for guests."

Henry moved toward the door. "Don't worry Reinhardt, I don't think there are vampires lurking in every corner. The woman in the rose garden said that they have been asleep for eight years." Reinhardt stood where he was and watched as Henry turned the knob on the door. Reinhardt clutched the hilt of his sword. "Henry is still young and has a lot to learn about this place," Reinhardt thought. The door opened and Henry suddenly jumped backwards. Reinhardt remained exactly where he was but relaxed his grip on his sword. From behind the door emerged a large figure that at a glimpse towered over Henry. Henry recovered and had his gun out in a second. The three of them stood together as the figure began to circle them.

"Don't move! Not even a finger," the man said. In full light Henry could see what or who it was that was assailing him. The elder man had white hair and wore a large overcoat. In his left hand he carried a large luggage bag, and in his right he held a wooden cross. Mounted on his back he carried a huge cross apparently made from wood. He waved the cross in his hand in the faces of the trio. When he had come full circle he addressed Henry.

"You all appear to be genuine humans."

"Did you really think we looked like vampires?" Henry asked.

Looking insulted, "Have you ever seen a vampire before? Have you?"

"In this place how do you I wouldn't."

He then walked over to Carrie and gave her a stiff look. Breathing heavily he moved on to Reinhardt. "I am Charlie Vincent, the mightiest of all vampire killers." Reinhardt stood and was not impressed, but Vincent apparently did not want him to be impressed. Such was the confidence in his tone and his manner. The man believed that he had the title. "You look like villagers... were you lost in the forest?"

"No, were not lost." Reinhardt said.

"I wasn't speaking of you. I meant the fearful one in armor and the little girl."

"Fearful one?" Henry said.

"You presume too much! I'm not a small child so do not try to treat me like one." Carrie replied.

"Really?" Vincent laughed.

"I am Reinhardt Schneider. We have come on a mission."

"A mission, woodsman?"

"Woodsman?"

"Yes, I know you are not from the village. Look at those arms, the color of your skin. No, you live in the woods. Perhaps you go into the village for business. Well, there is no business for any of you here. Be gone, while you live."

"Listen to me, we are not a bunch of villagers who have gotten themselves lost. We are here to destroy Dracula and any of his minions that stand in our way!" Reinhardt said, his voice giving away that his patience was wearing a bit thin.

"Don't talk nonsense! Leave Dracula to me. He is not the sort of opponent for an amateur like you, Woodsman!"

"The vampire is not a foe to be taken lightly and especially not by an overly presumptuous old man."

"Obstinate youth! I will give you one more warning. Leave this place without delay! Do you understand?"

"The only place we are leaving is this room. If you wish to live you may either leave this island or follow us."

"Very well. I see that there is no convincing you. Let it be on your own heads."

"Do you have a key?" Carrie said abruptly.

Vincent at first seemed confused then he responded. "Ah yes, at dawn I spied a young woman in the rose garden. In the midst of this nest of foes, she was calmly tending the roses. When she disappeared she left this key. My intuition tells me it is worthless. Take it if you wish."

Reinhardt accepted the key and handed it to Henry. "It's the key to the archive room." He said.

"Something else I will tell you. When I entered the garden maze a giant suddenly attacked me. I couldn't believe it. However hard I fought, I couldn't harm him. He was truly invincible... I don't frighten easily, but my blood ran cold as ice. I tell you again, beware, because there are such things."

Reinhardt, Henry and Carrie stood outside in the hall. Reinhardt turned to Henry and asked him, "what do you think of that story about the garden? Any idea what he could be talking about?"

"Not a clue. I don't seem to remember any giants when I was last here. Of course then, every one was a giant to me."

"What are we planning on doing next?" Carrie asked.

"Rosa said to go to the Archive room." Reinhardt said.

"Yes but I don't think we should trust everything that Rosa says. She is a vampire and not exactly on our side." Henry said.

"You have a point. That is why you and Carrie will go on to the garden maze and investigate this giant. Notice I said investigate. I don't want both of you to tackle this giant between the two of you. See where it is that he resides, see if you can measure its strengths and weaknesses, and then you wait for me. I'll head to the archives to see what it is that Rosa wanted us to see there."

"Thank you," Carrie said.

"For what?"

"For not saying anything about taking care of me or keeping me from danger. It's the first time you haven't sounded like you think of me as a child."

"If you want to be treated like everyone else, fine. Anyway, I loathe the idea of having anything in common with that stubborn old man in there."

Carrie smiled for what seemed like the first time since she had been with them Reinhardt thought. Henry told Reinhardt how to reach the archive room and how they were going to reach the garden maze. Reinhardt then set off down the hall while Henry and Carrie proceeded into the third door of the hall. The room tat they walked into was a large one.

"What is this room?" Carrie asked Henry.

"This used to be where we would invite guests into for conversation."

"A talking room?"

Henry thought about it for a moment. "Wellyes. You see that was the custom. When you have guests you invite them into a room where you can talk to them and entertain them for awhile."

"My home never had a room like this." Carrie examined the room closely. It was bigger than any room she had ever seen in her village. The room had two chandeliers lighting it. It also had four windows with balconies carefully covered in red linen drapes. To the leftmost side of the room was a smaller section dived by two thin pillars. In this smaller area was a drawer set with an odd golden head bust hanging above it. What animal or creature it represented Carrie did not know. To the sidewall where the entrances were, the room had two entrances, a row of chairs were lined up apparently for the guests. At the opposite end was a door that Henry stood by.

"Did you have many guests?"

"Actually no. I think that in all our time here we had one. And that was at the end." Henry looked at Carrie. He saw in her his same curiosity, the curiosity of a child. It was not a bad thing. Henry hoped that he still had it. "Come on. The garden is through here."

Rienhardt entered the room at the end of the hall. That room was very darkly lit and filled with cobwebs. The room was apparently the dining room as it had a large table for six. The room also had a large mirror with a table for guests to serve themselves drinks. On the opposite side was another door that Henry had told him about. Reinhardt had barely taken a step forward to open the other door when the door he had come in through slammed open. A figure rolled in and then immediately slammed the door shut again. When the figure turned to face Reinhardt his whip was already unwrapped and ready and his hand was on his sword hilt.
"He...hel...help! This place swarms with demons. You have entered the castle of hell!"

Reinhardt saw that it was a man dressed in plain clothes. His clothing seemed somewhat torn but relatively unharmed. It seemed as though he had not been here that long. "Calm down. You're safe right now. Tell me who you are? Where are you from?"

"If you value your life, you will flee this place now..."

Reinhardt thought hard to figure where this man could be from. Henry told him that the only ones taken from the village were the children. No other village had been attacked, so who was he? Suddenly something caught Reinhardt's attention in the corner of his eye. From a vase of flowers on the table in front of the mirror fell a single rose. Reinhardt watched it fall slowly and then suddenly he felt himself being drawn. Reinhardt's well-trained instincts suddenly relaxed and forgot about the man who had stormed in. Reinhardt turned and looked into the mirror. He looked into the mirror and stared at the room that was empty except for him. Reinhardt turned quickly as his body seemed to free itself from its own trance. Reinhardt leapt to the side as the man lunged at him like an animal. The face of the man was suddenly swept away by a light mist to reveal the distorted face of a vampire. The vampire laughed and growled at the same time. Its voice was only slightly human. "You smell different from previous adventurers... Come to me, I will taste your blood!" Reinhardt felt himself moving backwards as the vampire grabbed him by both arms.

When Carrie and Henry reached the bottom of the stairs, they both saw a piece of paper lying on the ground. Carrie looked around and saw that the tall room comprised of only the staircase from which they came, a knight's armor standing in the corner, and the door leading to the maze garden. In such a spacious area the paper seemed as though it had been placed there. Henry first inspected the knight's armor that he seemed not to recognize. When he was finished he knelt down next to Carrie by the rolled up piece of paper.

"You don't recognize the knight's armor?" she said.

"No. My father found a knight's suit of armor in the ruins once. But that is in the archive room." Henry looked back at the ominous looking knight. "I don't like that. I expected to be surprised at what I found in the castle, not in my own home."

"What about this paper?"

"It seems just a little out of the ordinary just laying here." Henry extended out his hand to reach for it when a smooth and extremely formal voice spoke aloud.

"Pray excuse me, but have you seen a scroll hereabouts?"

Both Henry and Carrie turned their heads quickly. Henry's hand slowly drew itself closer to his sword hilt. Carrie closed her hands and made fists. Both stood together somewhat surprised at the sight before them. A tall thin man dressed in an impeccable gentleman's suit holding a suitcase in his hand. Swing from left to right in the man's shadow was a long tail whose tip barely touched the ground. The man wore a green hat that matched his suit and had darkly shaded glasses covering his eyes. His face seemed slightly unshaven that was the only suspicious detail on the man. Everything else about him seemed to make him appear just as a perfect gentleman would. Even his tone was calm and assertive. Henry and Carrie both looked down at the paper on the floor and then looked back to the man.

"Ah, there it is. This is most important to my business. Did either of you touch it?" the man said with a gleam going across his glasses. Henry and Carrie both nodded. "Forgive my rudeness. My name is Renon. I am what you would call a demon."

The sound of the word immediately struck a cord in both Henry and Carrie. Henry drew his pistol in a split second and had it aimed at Renon's head. The demon slowly raised his hands in a pleading fashion. "Wait, wait! I am not an enemy! My role is to provide useful items for adventurers to the dark castle. I agree it is shameful for a demon to be working, but one needs gold even in hell these days."

"What is your business with us, demon?" Henry asked.

"That is surely up to you. I only offer my services, for a price. Take that scroll with you on your journey. Should you ever feel the need to purchase my services, just call my name." Henry looked at the scroll in his hand.

"If we choose not to?"

"Then I wish you much luck on your journey. You will need it." A sudden ring filled the room. Renon pulled out a watch from his vest jacket and looked at it. "Dear me, is that the time? It seems we have talked too long. Remember, summon me whenever you need." Suddenly a smile crept across his face. "I have a special for the both of you. I can send the both of your directly to where Dracula is if that is what you wish. The price would merely be the ownership of your soul. Or perhaps it could be a lease? Interested?"

"Begone demon." Carrie said before Henry could. She raised her fists and aimed them at him. The glow slowly began in her fists. As the glow grew brighter Renon bowed his head and doffed his hat to them. Then he disappeared like so many creatures on the island do, slowly.

Reinhardt ignored the pain he felt as the vampire again rammed his back into the wall. By this time the rumbling had brought the chandelier crashing down. Reinhardt had managed to keep the vampire's head locked under his armpit for the past five minutes. Reinhardt relaxed his muscles and continued to ignore the pain. Slowly he gathered up his energy in the arm he used to hold the vampire. The arm he begun to move toward a stake he had in his backpack. When he felt hilt of the stake Reinhardt spun his whole body round and with all his force threw the vampire in the direction of the mirror. Reinhardt then leapt onto the table in front of the mirror and thrust his stake into the vampire's heart and through the mirror. The vampire howled in pain. With its mouth still wide open, Reinhardt drew his sword and behead the growling vampire. Reinhardt looked into the mirror curiously. Blood slowly dripped down as though it came from nowhere at all. The vampire's corpse cast no reflection in the mirror. The effect somehow made Reinhardt think of his brother. It would surely be something that would interest him. Reinhardt cast a glance at the room he and the vampire had just destroyed before proceeding onto the next door. Through that door was yet another small room and finally the door to the archive room. When Reinhardt entered it, he was instantly struck by it massiveness. The archive room was filled shelf after shelf of books. Also the walls were decorated with artifacts collected from the ruins of Dracula's ancient castle. The time and work spent to collect so many things must have been excruciating. Henry's father must have been a dedicated man Reinhardt thought. Reinhardt went deeper into the archive searching for some clue to what he should find there. Then something caught Reinhardt's eye. The room was filled with many workbenches for someone to study at. In one far off corner a workbench had a large book laid open on it. To the side of the bench lay the skeletal remains of someone. Reinhardt approached the bench and stared down at the remains. The bones lay in an unusual manner over an up side down work stool. One of the stool's legs was going through the area of the human heart. Reinhardt patted away some of the dust on the book and read what was written.

"It has been one day since I killed my wife. I drained her body completely of bloodAll the while she muttered how much she loved, all the while I murdered her. When I finished I felt it. I felt her inside me. Now I know how I was fooled. Now I know what I have done and what I must do. The world of death is a dark and destructive thing. It took me away, and I took my wife with me. I tried to live like this but I cannot. I am haunted. I stalked the halls of my mansion looking for blood to drink but found none. I even looked in the garden but found only my old friend Victor still tending my maze. I looked into his dead eyes and saw what an abomination he had been turned into. Not alive, not dead. How could such a thing be done to him? I leave here the key to the garden maze so that no one may enter and lay eyes upon him. I hope one day he may go free from this place.

I thank my wife for loving me even as I killed her. Before I had killed her I had a grave prepared for her. I made sure to bury her in it but I wish that I could bury her off of this damned island. I had also prepared a grave for my son Henry. In my madness I thought to take him as well. God blessed him with the chance to escape. I hope he does. If God will listen I will pray for him. I love him. But now, as I write these words, I know I sit on my end."

Reinhardt closed the book. On the cover were the initials, "J. A. Oldrey." Underneath the book were two keys, a large one with a tree engraved on it and a plain one made of copper. Reinhardt clutched them in his hand. Reinhardt squeezed the keys in his hand as he felt the pain of another family broken by this island.

Outside the sun shone brightly. With so many of the windows boarded up, none of them had been able to truly see what a beautiful day it was. Now Carrie and Henry stood before the entrance to the maze garden. The years had been truly kind it. Henry looked at it and felt as though no time had passed since he had left. He almost imagined his father and mother to come out of a corner in the maze. Carrie's presence was the only thing that anchored him in reality, her presence and her thoughtful question.

"Why did you have a maze behind your mansion?"

Henry stood for a few moments pondering that himself. Finally he looked down at her and responded, "father was rich. Rich people can afford to build uncommon things in their backyard."

"Right." Although her tone gave away that she was unconvinced that he knew the answer himself. "How do we plan on getting in? That gate looks locked."

Henry tried the gate and Carrie was proved right. It was locked. He considered just shooting the lock but then thought better of it. With out a word Henry jumped onto the gate and began to climb it. He turned back to Carrie when he was half way up. "Can you make it?"

"Of course I can." She then also jumped onto the gate and began to climb up. Under her breath she muttered, "kids stuff."

When they were on the other side, Henry made a signal to be quiet. Inside the maze they had two choices, straight ahead or to the left. Henry decided to go straight ahead. He already had an idea where he wanted to go. As Henry walked off Carrie looked back through the gaps in the gate. On either side fo the gate was the statue of a dog. Their eyes seemed to follow Carrie. Oddly enough, she felt as though they had been looking away from the gate, not through it. Henry went straight ahead into a central area. The area had a sort of tower with a staircase. It was apparently there in case anyone got lost. Henry at first seemed to know where he was heading to, but then he suddenly began to head somewhere else. Finally he stopped and signaled for her to stop and listen. Carrie heard a faint noise. It was odd, like nothing she had heard before. It sounded like some kind of machine. Carrie followed Henry deeper into the maze until finally they found the source of the sound. In a desolate dead end corner of the maze, Henry and Carrie found the reason for the maze being so well maintained, Victor, the gardener.

Reinhardt turned the rusty lock of the garden maze and it slowly creaked open. He entered cautiously and wondered where first to search for his companions. The garden was so silent that when Reinhardt heard the rustle of a few bushes he instinctively headed toward them. Reinhardt carefully headed towards the left. The maze merely branched off into a dead end. But Reinhardt knew he heard something. Down the corridor to his right was a door that he would try momentarily. Reinhardt crossed over a small bridge until he reached the dead end. He looked around before he turned to try the door he had seen before. Then he heard the sound again.

"Who's there?" he said aloud.

Then out of the corner of a standing bush, a small figure crept out. It was a small boy. He had blue hair and blue eyes. He wore a bright purple suit with pig tails.

"Who are you?"

Reinhardt would normally not respond to such a question from an unknown child who just appeared from behind a bush, but Reinhardt had a good idea of who this boy was. "Reinhardt," he said to the boy. "I was sent here to bring you home."

"Home? My homethey burned the village. My home... My mother and father too..." tears ran down the boys cheeks.

Although he knew it already, he asked the boy his name. "Malus," the boy responded. "Are you alone, Malus? Have you seen anyone else. Did you stay hidden from anyone else like you did from me?"

"No. I don't know how I got here. They took all the children to the castle. The devil in the black cloak was looking for a certain child... And then, then... My head hurts... I can't remember..."

Henry walked slowly towards the large figure. From the back alone, Henry felt that he had forgotten the past eight years. He was back where he had been before. His parents lived happily here in the villa and Victor took care of the garden. Unfortunately his parents were both probably long dead and Victor was no longer the man he was. His large figured turned and revealed something large and glistening in the light. Henry stared in horror as a sharp yet rugged blade emerged from a box that was attached to his forearm. Henry finally saw the gray color of his skin and the blank expression of his face. Henry saw that his body seemed to have been sewn back together like a doll and yet still maintained the appearance of great strength. Victor looked at Henry for a moment before his hand reached for a short string coming out of the box in his forearm. He then pulled the string and the box came alive with motion and noise. The blade seemed to suddenly begin moving. As the blade pulsed Henry felt his own heart beat pulsing from his right arm. Henry fought the fear surging through his body and raised his left arm, gun in hand. The bullet bounced off of the box coming out of his arm and went through his shoulder blades. Instead of blood merely puffs of smoke arose from the hole in Victor's body. Carrie grabbed Henry by the other arm and dragged him away just as Victor swung down his mechanized blade. Henry and Carrie began to run away as Victor began to walk menacingly towards them. With every turn of a corner Victor seemed only a few steps behind him. For a brief moment Carrie stopped and fired one of her magical orbs. Victor fell to the floor and a loud crash was heard all over the garden. Henry patted Carrie on the shoulder.

"Wonderful." Henry said. A moment passed and then slowly Victor stirred. Henry's expression quickly changed from victorious to shocked. "He never knew how to give up," Henry said as he led Carrie away.

Reinhardt was preoccupied by the loud noise he had heard a moment ago. In a few seconds Reinhardt had almost forgotten about Malus.

"Friends?"

Malus' voice stirred him back to reality. "Yes," he responded.

"Are they in danger?" he asked.

"I hope not." Reinhardt looked at Malus and said, "let's go. Remember to stick close to me. Anything happens, don't run off." Malus nodded his head and followed Reinhardt. Together they walked out of the dead end where Malus had been hiding. When they had passed the small bridge they both heard the sound of dogs. They both stopped in their tracks. From the walls of the maze jumped out two dogs. The dogs landed several feet away from them. Reinhardt stared at them and realized what they were. The dogs were statues. Where as before they were just delicately carved statues to be admired for their life-like appearance, now they were to life-like. Malus caught onto Reinhardt's hand and tugged at him. Malus ran towards the door nearest to them and pushed it open. As they went through Reinhardt quickly drew close. Reinhardt then grabbed Malus's hand and began to run. Behind them the dogs jumped through the walls around the door. Reinhardt and Malus ran deeper into the maze making lefts and rights at random. Finally both of them ran into something large and hard at the turn of one corner. Reinhardt unwrapped his whip from his waist and prepared himself. Then he breathed a sign of relief as the frightened figures of Henry and Carrie faced them down with guns and magical orbs poised.

"Reinhardt!" They exclaimed.

Carrie then saw Malus and was filled with joy. "You found him!" she said. Carrie hugged Malus as though he was a close loved one who had been lost. Malus remained in Carrie's arms until he yelled and pushed her down to the ground. A dog came flying out of the wall behind them. Slowly walking from one of the corridors of the maze was the other dog accompanied by Victor.

"It appears as though both of us found trouble." Henry said.

Reinhardt saw that they only had one direction to go the only corridor that wasn't blocked by one of them. He immediately felt as though they were being corralled into someplace. Unfortunately they had no choice, it was up to Dracula now where they went.

"Let's move, fast." Reinhardt said leading the way down the open corridor. Taking up the back position was Henry. As he checked his weapon he said to himself, "this feels very familiar." Victor and the dogs led tem deep into the maze in a direction that Henry remembered all to well. Finally they reached a section with a door. The door had a crest laid into it. One by one they entered this area. Reinhardt led the way and was already pushing the crest laid door open. As he opened it Henry called out to Reinhardt, "it's a trap. They want us in there."

"I know." Reinhardt said. Henry didn't feel any better. As Henry was the last one in he was surprised as Victor came menacingly closer until suddenly he closed the door on them. Henry, just out of curiosity, tried to open the door Victor had just closed on them. It would not budge. Henry looked at Reinhardt and shook his head. Slowly they all walked down the dark lit stairs of the old dungeon

Malus and Carrie stuck close together as they went down. Reinhardt took the lead and Henry covered the back. As Henry went down he already had a mind at what they would find there waiting for them. Henry remembered the last time he went down these very steps. "Do you seek death," asked the man who had stood before them. The man had been Gilles De Rais. From what Henry had been able to gather, this man was like a grandfather to him. His role in the scheme of things is still a mystery, his current whereabouts even more, for as they reached the bottom of the steps he was considerably absent.

"Reinhardt, be wary, my previous visit here was not an easy one." Henry said.

Reinhardt's eyes circled the giant chamber searching for where the attack might come, from the front, behind, or perhaps from inside the darkened dungeons at their sides. A sucking sound reached his ears and his attention shot upwards.

"Perhaps from above," he whispered to himself. His hand went to his whip and he unrolled it from around him. They had all reached the center and each one of them prepared themselves for an imminent attack. Carrie's fists began to glow and Malus stood closer to her. He looked all around him as though he were a child in a zoo.

The body that fell from the ceiling landed on Carrie and Malus, causing her orbs to fire away at one of the dungeons on the side. Carrie screamed and all at once the whole group seemed to enter a state of emergency. Both Reinhardt and Henry began to move and react as though they ad been attacked, jumping and turning 360o. Both seemed to suddenly think to fast and neither seemed to come to the simple conclusion that what Carrie needed was that someone get the body off of her. Finally Malus, who was not totally underneath the body, dragged it off of Carrie.

"It's alright. It is only a body," Malus said half grinning.

"Only a body?" Henry said.

Carrie looked at both of them, "couldn't either of you have stopped being so cautious and just help Malus get the body off me?" Then Carrie looked at Malus and said "Thank you." Carrie then froze when she felt something-cold drop onto the tip of her nose. She actually screamed when she saw Malus' face splattered in red. A large figure dropped from the ceiling and crash onto the ground pushing all of the adventurers to the ground. The large figure dashed onto the body that had previously fallen. The figure was yet another vampire. It's bat-like head stunned Carrie's eyes each time she saw one. Now it was worse as she watched the creature sink it's large fangs into the female body that had fallen on top of her. The fangs sunk all the way in and soon blood began to seep from where the vampire had bitten. All the while Malus stood transfixed and fascinated by the sight. The vampire was suddenly thrown from the woman's corpse. The crack of a whip was heard and Reinhardt stood tall next to Carrie, whip in hand and eyes resolute to kill the prey before him. Then the vampire spoke in it's half-man, half animal voice.

"It is very rude to interrupt someone who is enjoying his meal...," the vampire said licking the blood from his 'lips.' "Or perhaps I shall I think differently...like the main dishis served?"

Behind Reinhardt another vampire dropped from the ceiling and surprised him. The others stood themselves and formed a circle

"You will all die here!!" The first vampire said.

To the surprise of them all the female body that moments ago had been a victim of the vampire was now standing up on its own flashing its new and quickly grown fangs to Carrie. The female vampire seemed to crawl quickly on the floor and began to move towards Carrie. Carrie immediately began to charge her magical powers for the vampire.

Henry meanwhile fired several shots from his pistol and sent the vampire to the ground momentarily. Henry leapt onto the vampire and pulled his sword out. He thrust the sword into the vampire's heart and then pressed his pistol onto the vampire's neck. He looked into the vampires eyes that were wide like that of an animal yet somewhat hypnotizing. In his mind he remembered staring into similar eyes eight years before as his home was invaded by these vampires. The thought of these creature having overrun his home broke the vampire's hold over his concentration and Henry squeezed the trigger. His armor was painted red with blood. Henry had blown the vampire's neck clear away and now the vampire's head rolled along the ground of the dungeon.

Meanwhile Reinhardt faced off the first speaking vampire. It leapt for him but Reinhardt ducked and rolled under him. Reinhardt spun around and whipped the vampire's back while he still flew in the air. The vampire had landed further away than he intended and face first. Reinhardt pressed this advantage and ran towards him. When the vampire began to stand itself, Reinhardt swung his whip and wrapped it around it's neck. The vampire howled like an animal as his neck began to smoke ad smolder. The whip seemed to burn him.

"It c...cannot be! I, a vampire defeated by a mere human!?"

Reinhardt wrapped a part of the whip around his fist and tugged at it hard. The vampire's head pooped off of it's body. The head rolled and Reinhardt caught it with his foot. Reinhardt looked to Henry who then began to see how Carrie was doing. Carrie fired many of her orbs but to no avail. The female vampire crawled at such high speeds at she could not seemed to kill her. Reinhardt pulled from his back pack a glass bottle with a bright blue liquid inside.

"Stand still," he said.

Carrie instinctively stood still. The vampire moved closer and closer towards her and Malus. Malus grasped her wrist and looked towards Reinhardt who was in mid throw. Malus pulled Carrie out of the way of what Reinhardt threw and left the vampire square in it's path. The glass bottle crashed onto the vampire's face and she erupted into a purplish flame as holy water consumed her body. The scream of the vampire echoed throughout the dungeon. Reinhardt stared upwards as he heard a flapping sound echo behind the scream. Henry ran to Carrie's and Malus' aid.

"Are you two alright?"

"Mostly," Carrie said. "That vampire was so fast. I need to practice how to shoot faster."

Henry smiled, "you will get your practice soon enough I think." He then turned to Malus. "How about you, are you alright?"

He looked at Carrie. "Mostly." Then Malus began to wipe away some of the blood that had fallen on his face.

Henry walked back to Reinhardt who was still looking upwards. Reinhardt looked at Henry who then also began to look upwards. Reinhardt left Henry looking and walked towards one of the dungeon walls. Reinhardt reached up and grabbed one of the torches lit with the strange purple flame. He took his place again beside Henry and with all his strength threw the torch up into the air. Henry watched as the torch went higher and higher. When the torch struck the ceiling, the dungeon was filled with a loud moan. Henry watched shockingly as the torch revealed the hundreds of vampires hanging above them. The torch had struck a hibernating vampire who recived a very hot awakening. The vampire's neighbors on te other hand awoke just in time not to get burned .One by one, the vampires awoke and dropped down from above to surround the group of adventureres. One of the vampires dropped behind Carrie. She quickly sensed that something was behind her and so Carrie turned. She felt as though her heart had exploeded inside her chest when she turned around only to see a large vampire jumping towards her. If not for Malus dragging her to the side the vampire would surely have had her instead of the floor.

"What in God's name do we do now?" exclaimed Henry.

"How did you get out the last time?" Reinhardt asked.

"We didn't really get out. We were trown out through a hole underneath that coffin."

"Then lets head for it." Reinhardt looked around at the hoards of vampires that were closing in on them. "Allright. Everyone stick close. Henry, you and I take the front and pave the way to the coffin. Carrie and Malus, you two cover our backs. No one let anything get past you!"

Slowly Reinhardt and Henry began to make the way for the group to move forward. Henry exercised his best marksmanship to try and blow a hole in the head of every vampire that he could see. Reinhardt using his whip pushed them backward sometimes wrapping his whip around a vampire's neck and snapping the head off. Carrie and Malus meanwhile just stuck close to the backsides of the two warriors. For some reason fear crept all over Carrie. She felt helpless and vulnerable. More than that she felt threatened. Up until now anger and adrenaline kept her going and allowed her to make her magical orbs. Now Carrie could feel no such magic surging through her. For the first time since the attack of the village she felt normal like anyone else. No longer did she feel the surge of magical powers flowing through, dying to be released onto something. She was just a young girl, and she was very afraid. She looked towards Malus who just looking at herjust looking at her. When Malus stopped looking at her he looked at all the vampires around them. He stared at them as though puzzled by something. Carrie tried to concentrate, to lessen the fear that was coursing through her body but all was for naught for suddenly she felt the cold grip of a vampire clutch her neck. She screamed as she felt herself pulled away from the others. She slowly lost sight of the others. Reinhardt and Henry seemed not to notice that she had been taken. Malus looked at her, then he extended his hand towards her. Carrie tried to reach out to him although e was already to far away. Carrie then saw that a vampire grasp Malus' hand and take him too.

Henry looked towards Reinhardt, "they've taken the kids. We are surely next."

"Can't be helped, we have to move on. Right now it is either one of us makes it or all is lost." Reinhardt pulled another bottle of holy water from his backpack and threw it at the nearest group of vampires. The vampires howled as they erupted into a purplish flame. Reinhardt looked ahead an saw that they were almost to the coffin. "We're almost there, Henry!" He shot a glance behind him but Henry was gone. Reinhardt made a large swirl with his whip to fend off any vampires that were too close for comfort, then he looked behind him for some sign of where henry had been taken. All Reinhardt could see were the blood red eyes of thirsty vampires crowding around him. Reinhardt made another large swirl with his whip. When his hand was reaching the top of his arch he felt that something grabbed his hand. Reinhardt slowly turned to see and was now face to face with an elderly yet string vampire. Unlike the other vampires this one had not lost its human facial features. He had gray skin and was dressed in a velvet suit. He grinned at Reinhardt, showing his glistening fangs, and punched Reinhardt in the face. The punch sent Reinhardt clear across the dungeon and to the foot of the steps leading to the coffin. When Reinhardt looked upwards he was at the feet of an old woman in a dress equally as elegant as that of the elderly vampire's. The woman smiled down at him. Her teeth were not fangs so she was not a vampire nevertheless she seemed inhuman. In her left she held a large staff with the image of a strange bird sitting on a jewel of some kind. She pointed the end of the staff, which was the point of the long beak of the bird, at Reinhardt. When she raised the staff up again Reinhardt felt himself rise up with it. Reinhardt looked down and saw the shadow of his floating body grow larger as he went higher. Suddenly he felt himself being thrown fast in one direction. When he finally stopped, his body had been thrown against the far wall in front of the coffin. Reinhardt was lain against it in an almost crucifixion pose because his legs were spread.

"Let my vampires drain them, Actrise," the elder vampire said.

The woman, obviously Actrise he thought, walked towards Reinhardt.She looked down at the coffin and pointed her staff at it. She raised her staff and the coffin flew up in a thousand pieces. Underneath was an abyss of pure blackness.

"Your mindless dogs don't deserve to send these adventurers to their deaths."

The elder vampire stood beside Actrise. "Don't pretend that by your thorwing them down there you will be sending them off to an honarable death. You have no concept of honor."

Actrise turned and smiled, "Gilles, Gilles, you think you know me so well."

"That is because I do." Then the elder vampire, now known to Reinhardt as Gilles pointed a finger at a large figure that was making its way through the crowd of vampires.

"The master will not approve of your games! You play too much. You gamble unnecessarily."

Actrise turned to the large dark figure that towered over them both. "Well? Are my games a bother?" The figure remained silent. His face seemed unmoved, neither pleased nor displeased.

Reinhardt felt that his eyes were playing tricks on him. The large figure that had warned them, Dracula was now before him once more. Reinhardt then began to strain his muscles to break away from his invisible bonds but it was no use. Meanwhile Actrise continued prompting the towering vampire. Then she looked Gilles.

"I don't think he is approving or disapproving of anything right now." Then she tapped the bottom of her staff on the ground three times.

"Blast you, you witch!" Gilles cursed and turned to see that the three bodies of Malus, Carrie, and Henry were floating towards them. Actrise watched them and began to count them off one by one. Reinhardt's bellow echoed in the old dungeon as he watched.

"One" Actrise said as Carrie was sucked down into the black abyss.

"No!"

"Two" she said softly as Henry went down as well. Then Reinhardt felt himself moving down towards the same blackness. "And now you" He looked up at Actrise who was smiling. For a moment he thought to himself that it was over, then he remembered something his father once told him, "sometimes even after death, it is still not over." With that thought blackness engulfed his vision and Reinhardt no longer knew if his eyes were open or not.

Actrise looked into the abyss, still smiling. "What of the boy?" Gilles asked. They both looked down at the small purple haired figure. The dark one looked down at Malus with a face of contempt and disgust. Suddenly they heard a voice, "he will die, eventually. In the meantime, let that scum of a Belmont and his friends die in the bowels of the castle. Let them all find death at the end of the river of poison."