Order 6 – The Black Swan

London, England – Present Day

"What happened then? Where did you bring her?" Celes asked, her eyes wide with child-like curiosity. Walter's recollection of Rain's story made Celes's heart beat with sympathy. She tried to imagine Rain's position and how she herself would have acted if she had been in the same situation. Although her and her master were not lovers like Rain and Frost had been, would she have fought an entire army to get him back? Celes didn't doubt the bond that her and her master shared but for some reason she couldn't answer the question of whether or not she would hunt for him. Would she have even made the same choice that Rain had? Frost last wish was that his blood line was to continue through Rain. She had been given the dark gift so quickly that Celes wondered if it had been any other situation, would Rain have even wanted to become a vampire?

"I did the only thing I thought I could. I wanted her to be free, so I brought her back to Christoph." He replied.

"B-But how did Christoph and his family-"

"She never woke up." Walter answered, catching Celes by surprise. "She's been sleeping since World War II because she had no desire to wake up. I had taken the remaining FREAK chips from the camp and left them with her, because they were all she had left of Frost. Christoph gave me his word that he would watch over her until the day she would wake up and since World War II he has kept that promise."

"But why is she only waking up now? Why is she killing people in London?"

"It's because the original FREAK chips have found their way here. They were taken from her tomb in Treblinka and even though she was sleeping, she felt those pieces of him. When they were stolen, she knew. Her sleep has been undisturbed until now. Those men that were murdered in the last couple of weeks were most likely involved with the crime. She wants Frost back and will stop at nothing until she does. I have recently been told that the Iscariot institution has decided to involve themselves in this situation. For what reasons, I don't know, but all I can say is that Rain is going to be hunted..."

Celes was completely in shock. "H-How do you know all this?"

Reaching over to his desk and from the top drawer; he pulled out a letter that had been addressed to him from Rabbi Christoph Berner in Poland. "I received a letter from Christoph only days ago."

Walter handed it to Celes, whose hands nearly trembled as she held the letter between her fingers. What type of letter would this be from a Rabbi who was secretly protecting a sleeping vampire in Poland? She opened it delicately, taking care as she removed the paper from the envelope. Unfolding the letter, her eyes scanned over each word vigilantly.

Walter Kum Dorne,

Although it has been so long since we have spoken, I regret that I cannot spend time catching up on old times. Although I take the chance that other eyes may fall upon these words, this letter is extremely urgent. Walter, it is of the utmost importance that you know that Rain is awake. A little over a month ago, Rain's tomb was attacked and the pieces of Frost that you left with her have been taken. At first I thought that this situation would not be as serious as what it has become. The Vatican sent members of the Iscariot Institution here to investigate. They demanded information about Rain and any information of knew of her and her heritage. They were looking for something and I feel that Rain holds a connection to Iscariot, but I can't be certain. I thought that no one knew of her slumber here in Poland, but it seems that word spread fast upon her awakening. I have no idea how the Vatican knows of Rain, but it is dangerous for her. Walter, I think Rain is looking for you, I wasn't certain until now. When I heard of the murders in London I somehow knew that that it was her. She knows she is in danger but you must find her before the Vatican does. Please protect her if you can.

Your friend,

Christoph Berner

"Rain... She is going to be hunted by Iscariot." Celes's eyes were wide with fear at the thought of coming face to face with Alexander Anderson again, the butchering priest of Iscariot. She remembered it had only been several weeks ago that he and Alucard fought in the underground subway tracks heading to Queen's Gate.

"We have to find her..." Celes said, rising to her feet. "I know I don't know the whole story of what is happening, but we can't just let Iscariot do this. Where are we going to find her? She could be anywhere in the city."

"Do not worry, Police Girl..."A voice spoke up behind her. "We do not have to search the city." As she turned she saw her Master standing in the shadows of the room, unnoticed by her for the entire time she had been there. "We do not have to search for she will come here..." Walter said. "And if she comes here, I fear that Iscariot may as well..."

Treblinka, Poland - A month prior to present day.

The first thing that gripped her was the hunger. Her jaw ached and the corner of her mouth twitched as her head rolled slowly to the side. Before she even opened her eyes, she knew she was wrapped in the comforting darkness of a coffin – but not just any coffin. It was lined with the softest of silks. A breath filled her lungs and it felt as though she hadn't used them in years. The air was still as she lifted her aching arms up. Her body felt weak and it took more effort than she had been used too to open the stone lid of the coffin. "Master...?" Rain whispered, her voice tired as she opened her eyes to the blackness. His presence was gone. Gradually she managed after some effort to push the lid up and off the base. It toppled over onto the stone floor of what seemed to be a dimly lit chamber. The sound of the lid hitting the floor echoed through empty halls and the loud sound hurt her strangely sensitive ears. Rain rolled to her side again. Sliding an arm beneath her weakened body, she proceeded to lift herself up into a sitting position. Where was she? This was the first time her gaze fell on herself. Her hands were skin and bone. Bringing her hands to her face, she touched her temples. Her head was pounding like a hammer, she needed blood. Rain's black hair was now stringing down over sickly pale skin. Her eyes were slightly sunken in as it now looked as though she had suffered through some sort of fever. Looking around with blurry vision, she almost didn't see the figure enter the open doorway of the chamber. It was a teenage boy. An expression of alarm was lit up by the small lamp in his hand. He stared at Rain and Rain stared at him. Instinct immediately took over. In the blink of an eye, Rain pushed herself forward out of the coffin and across the floor towards the boy. Hissing, she tackled him before he had a chance to realize what was happening. Her arms entwined him, trapping him against her on the floor as she brought her lips to the soft skin of his neck. Her breath trembled, she was starving.

"Rain!" A deep voice suddenly shouted out from the hall near the doorway where she and the boy were struggling. Her curiosity getting the better of her, Rain fought the hunger and looked up to see who had called her name. An old man, with a long white beard and black robes – it was a Rabbi - that much she could tell. She hissed. The sheer fact someone was interrupting her at such a crucial moment, tested the little patience she had. "Let him go." The man continued.

"I must feed!" Rain barked in a raspy voice, as she heaved for air. The sudden movement had almost completely drained her. But she was still able to hold the boy's form tightly. "You cannot understand this hunger!" Her mind was cloudy and her vision was nothing but a smeared blur of images, like a painting whose colors ran together. "Blood will be provided to you upon your request, but I can't let you feed upon one of my students. Please let him go." The man said. Rain stared at him, her eyes locked with his, her lips near to the boy's neck. "It has been my sworn duty to protect you. I promise you that you will receive blood. Please..." "Who are you...?" Rain asked, her eyes fixed on his face. She stared into his eyes, reaching into his soul to familiarity. "You are the boy... The one from Treblinka..." Looking down, her burning red eyes stared at the boy's frightened facial expression. Her grip loosened and she pushed herself back. Once Rain was no longer pinning him down, the boy scrambled back away from her so the older man had an opportunity to step between them. The student looked to his teacher who showed no signs of backing down from Rain.

"Jacob. Please go get some medical blood for our guest. She is clearly hungry after her lengthy sleep."

Rain looked up as the boy nodded to his teacher and quickly scrambled away down the hall as quickly as he could. Rain's put hands to her head, trying to find relief for the headache. "What is going on? You are no longer a boy..." She whispered, her voice filled with confusion. Leaning back against the side of the coffin, she found herself now out of breath. "H- How long have I been sleeping?" She asked, her eyes filled with disbelief as she stared at the Rabbi.

"You have been sleeping for over sixty years." He answered. Rain's face paled visibly.

"It isn't possible..."

"It is possible. After the attack on Auschwitz, you fell into a deep sleep. I promised to watch over you as you slept, and so you have been under my care ever since World War II." Christoph explained. "Unfortunately I cannot say that you have woken at peaceful times. When you were brought here, Walter brought the remaining FREAK chips that contained pieces of your Master..."

She remembered. Eyes wide, she turned her gaze away from Christoph's, trying desperately to hide her face from view as her eyes filled with tears.

"Frost..." She whispered, shielding her face with her shaking hand. "No...Why has my soul been condemned to be tormented in such a way? He has been taken from me again... I sense him. His presence is distancing from me"

"I know it hurts, child. It is something that will take time to adjust to. You have awoken in this new time with no guidance." He said kneeling down beside her as Jacob entered into the doorway with a bag of medical blood in his hand. "But although I am human, I offer you my friendship and any information I have that may help you."

Slowly Rain lowered her hand so she could see Christoph more clearly through the strands of her tangled black hair. Christoph reached back to Jacob and took the blood from him and offered it to Rain. For a moment, she was unsure of how to react, but after a few moments, she accepted his offer. Her jaw aching again, she brought the bag slowly to her lips. Christoph was intrigued by how she did not simply bite into the bag, but took a moment to cherish the food she had received. With trembling hands and quickening breaths, Rain kissed the bag after running her tongue across the cold plastic. Then her teeth sank into it, her mouth filling with blood. Her first gulp was long awaited and she savored every moment. Then she swallowed again and then again, until she had lost count. But it didn't matter any more. Her breath quickened as she swallowed every last drop in the bag. Already Christoph was seeing an improvement in her features. She was looking less sick and far younger than before. Slowly she was becoming what he had remembered. After she had finished, her restored form leaned against the coffin, staring once again at Christoph.

"The vials that were left here with you as you slept have been stolen." Christoph said.

"I can track them myself. Frost is connected to me. To me they have a scent I can track like a wolf." Rain replied, gripping the rim of the coffin and trying desperately to stand on her weak legs as she discarded the medical blood bag to one side.

"You're still weakened. You can't leave until you've regained your strength and have found something suitable to defend yourself with." Christoph continued, reaching out to lend her his support so that she wouldn't fall.

"Oh? And what do you suggest?" Rain said, adjusting her clothes as she began to slowly fill them out.

Christoph smiled at her. "Come with me, I may just have what you are looking for."

Rain was confused as he led her, lending her support for her to walk, out of the small chamber and down the dark stone hallway to another, much larger chamber.

"After the war, I dedicated a lot of my time to studying what exactly the FREAK chips were, vampirism and suitable weaponry." He explained, leaving her for a moment as he retrieved a large black case that was about 5 feet in length and about 2 in width. With some effort, he lifted it up onto the table in the center of the room so that Rain could easily see it as he opened it up.

"This is Kosmos and Kronos, special swords designed specifically for you."

Within the padded case were two three foot swords that upon the hilt had wrist connectors so that they could be reversed so that they were able to point back, protecting the lower arm of the wearer.

"These blades are specially folded steel; you won't find a finer blade anywhere. They are weighted, but you should have no problem wielding them."

Upon each pair there was something written and Rain had to look closer to see exactly what was written on it. Theban letters ran in a line beneath the names on each blade near their hilts.

"Thank you..." Rain whispered, running a finger along the words upon the blade. A familiar power tingled at her finger tips and it took a moment for her to place that touching both Kosmos and Kronos felt as though she was touching Frost. "Why do I feel you still?"

"Frost is apart of you and he always will be. He is also apart of these weapons. I took two of the chips that had been left with you and I infused them into the inside of the blades as they were being made. These swords are as much a part of you as Frost was and they are my gift to you." The old Rabbi said.

Her hand trembled at their touch. She didn't know what to say. She was awe struck. He had given his life to protecting her and he never thought twice about it.

"Thank you..." She whispered.

Author's Note:

Finally another chapter edited. I hope (like my other chapters) you enjoy the new and improved Chapter 6.