Author's Note: Greetings everyone! For those who know something about me, they know that I'm a Religious Studies major. My strengths are in Catholic theology, but my specialty is Church History. In this chapter I touch on elements of Orthodox Judaism. I'm not an expert on Judaism, so I may have made some mistakes. Please forgive me if I have. Other than that, please continue to read and review.

The power of what has been before,
rises to trap you within.
A magic carpet ride,
a genie,
maybe more.
A city of heavenly sin,
sleep with the Devil and then you must pay.
Sleep with the Devil,
the Devil will take you away.
Black gates of Babylon—

"Gates of Babylon"—Rainbow

Seuche in Deutschland

Chapter IV

On the afternoon of December 31st, Lysander and Alcander arrived in Berlin. The city had changed some in the month that Lysander had been away. Most of the Christmas decorations were still up, but the city also appeared to be celebrating the coming of the New Year. The streets were, however, not filled with as many people.

"I guess the 'plague scare' kept a lot of people in their homes," said Lysander.

"This place's incredible!" Alcander declared. "There's stuff here that's not even in Bucharest!"

"Welcome to the West, Cander."

"I wonder how they celebrate New Years Eve here?"

"I don't know. I never bothered to ask. I suppose it's probably not that different from how it's celebrated in the village…except with a lot more people."

"Well, when we find out we need to celebrate this evening as well."

"We're not on vacation, Cander."

"…Yes…I know."

"Good."

"So where're we going first?"

"To see my friend, Ingo."

"He's the one who sent you that last letter, right?"

"Correct."

Ingo Langheinrch resided in a home near the palace, which was one of the upper-class portions of the city. The interior of his home resembled something of a small palace—with a grand piano, a crystal chandelier, frescos, gifts from the Prussian prince, and portraits of famous—or infamous, depending on one's perspective—Germans.

While they waited in the main hall, Lysander and Alcander could not help but make comments about the interior of Ingo's home.

"And people think my parents're rich," said Alcander.

"Think we should send that portrait back to Uncle Richter?" Lysander asked, as he pointed to a portrait of Martin Luther.

Lysander and Alcander shared a chuckle, until a voice called to Lysander.

The voice belonged to a man in his late forties with glasses and a receding hairline.

"Ingo," replied Lysander. "How're you my friend?"

"Can't complain. Welcome back to Berlin. Who's that with you? You look kind of alike."

"He should, he's my younger brother."

"Greetings," Alcander began, while he extended his hand. "I'm Alcander."

"It's a pleasure to meet you, Alcander. Are you staying with your brother for a few days? You came at the perfect time too. This is New Years Eve, after all."

"What happens in the city on New Years Eve?"

"The citizens usually gather on the streets for drinking."

"Really! That's a little bit different than how it's back home, right Sander?"

Lysander presented his brother with a look to re-inform him that they were not in Berlin to party.

"My brother and I aren't here to party, Ingo. We're here to investigate the events that took place in the northern part of the city."

"Why? That's our area to worry about."

"Because I suspect there's a vampire in Berlin. That'll go over well in this area. I'd better think of something quick…Well, my government sent me here to investigate."

Out of the corner of his eye Lysander shot his brother a look to play along with everything he said.

"What do you mean, Lysander?"

"I mean that when I informed those over me about the letters I'd received they sent me here to investigate."

"Why?"

"I'm not certain. I think it has something to do with interest the Tsar has in Prussia."

"…Makes sense…But why didn't I receive a letter about your coming?"

"That I can't tell you. All I know's that they asked me to return to Prussia, and I asked my brother to accompany me."

Ingo nodded. "I see."

"So what can you tell us?"

"Well…the disease struck the northern part of the city, which you're aware of, around the area near the Jewish ghetto. We talked to the rabbi some."

"What's the rabbi's name?"

"Rabbi David Herschel."

"Hmm...sounds like a good place to start. By the way, when do the festivities for New Years Eve start?"

"Nine this evening."

"Thanks. We'll be there."

After Lysander and Alcander left the Langheinrch residence the two of them waited for a carriage to take them to the northern part of the city.

"Sander?"

"Yes?"

"Something you said in there confused me."

"What's that?"

"You told your friend that we'd be going to the New Years Eve festivities tonight at twenty-one. But you told me earlier that we're not here to party, so why did you change your mind?"

"I didn't change my mind, but if there's a vampire in this city don't you think he or she'd strike when there's an outdoor party?"

"…I suppose so."

"No supposing about it, Cander."

When Lysander and Alcander finally secured a carriage the driver informed them that he would not drive into the northern part of the city, but would drop them off a block away. And when the two finally entered the northern part of the city they noticed that its citizens had masks over their nose and mouth.

"We should probably cover our nose and mouth too, Sander."

"Agreed."

Lysander was about to place his nose and mouth inside his shirt until he noticed that a small Catholic Church had on its sign that they were giving out masks for people to wear. Now with a mask on, Lysander and Alcander made their way through the northern part of Berlin.

"So where do we go?" asked Alcander.

"The Jewish ghetto."

"Why there?"

"Because Ingo mentioned the rabbi's name. He's a good person to start with."

"Wonder where this ghetto is?"

"Don't worry…we'll find it."

Lysander and Alcander received directions quickly to the Jewish ghetto, although the person who gave them the directions wondered if the two of them were Jewish.

"I wonder if there're any Jews in Romania?" asked Alcander.

"I don't know. I've never encountered one. Everyone I've known my whole life has always been Christian."

Once Lysander and Alcander entered the ghetto it seemed as though they had entered a new world. The buildings were not in the same condition as the buildings outside the ghetto. The men wore yarmulkes—or skullcaps—and had long beards. The women wore wigs. And some of the residents refused to wear masks.

"All these people look alike to me," Alcander replied.

"I know. You certainly couldn't easily pick out the rabbi among this group of people."

"Well, I know that whenever I'm trying to find a priest I go to a church. I'm sure the same's true with finding a rabbi."

"Well, they wouldn't call it a 'church'—it's called a 'synagogue'—but your logic's correct, Cander."

Inside this ghetto there was only one synagogue, so Lysander and Alcander did not have to search for long.

Lysander and Alcander had never been inside a synagogue before, but they assumed the interior would be similar to a church. Yet it was not. There were no pews and no altar. All that was similar were some candles and a cabinet in the center of the synagogue that was similar to a tabernacle. There were also a few religious images of a cherub, and what Lysander and Alcander assumed were images of the Patriarchs and Moses.

"Is this what Jesus worshipped in?" asked Alcander.

"Something like that," a voice replied from behind.

Lysander and Alcander gasped. Behind them stood a man in his late fifties dressed in black with a long beard and glasses. The man wore a skullcap, and had a few bands wrapped around his fingers.

"When Jesus would've gone to a synagogue in the Holy Land this is what he would've seen. Although I'm sure that you, who're obviously Christians, are more familiar with stories about Jesus at our great Temple in Jerusalem before it was destroyed by the Romans."

"Are you Rabbi Herschel?" asked Lysander.

The man nodded. "I am he. Is there something I can do for you?"

But before Lysander or Alcander could answer the rabbi's question, the rabbi noticed Alcander's interest in the bands around his fingers.

"Wondering what these're I take it?" Rabbi Herschel said with a smile, as he flashed his bands to Alcander.

"Huh? …Well…yes, actually."

The rabbi chuckled. "I put these against my head when I can't think. They're words from the Torah."

"The Torah?"

"The first five books of the Bible. Sometimes they're also called 'The Books of Moses' or 'The Law.' I'm sure you've read from them in either your Lutheran or Catholic Church."

"Actually, we're Orthodox," replied Lysander.

"Orthodox…Oh, yes! That's the church that's predominate in Russia, correct?"

"Yes," responded Alcander.

"So I take it that you two're from Russia?"

"No, Romania," began Lysander. "We're Romanian Orthodox."

"I see. Well, with that in mind, what brought you to Germany…or to my synagogue more specifically?"

"Well, Rabbi, I'm a representative of the Wallachian Government. And I'm here because of news that I received about an epidemic that struck the northern part of Berlin. One of the magistrates of His Highness, the prince, informed me of your name that you may know something about the epidemic."

"I don't really know much. At first the disease affected those outside the ghetto, and we'd no concern for it."

"I guess that explains why some of the people here, inside the ghetto, weren't wearing masks?"

"Correct. We felt immune to the dangers outside the ghetto. But, unfortunately, this disease has affected one person in our family."

"When you mean 'our family,' Rabbi, do you mean someone from your immediate family, or someone from your parish?"

"From my parish, even though we don't call them that."

"I'd like to see this person."

"Why? Are you a doctor?"

"No, I'm not a doctor."

"Then why do you want to see this person?"

"Because it'd help calm my fears."

"Fears of what?"

"Well…Damn! How am I going to be able to tell him this?"

Alcander placed a hand on his brother's shoulder. "It's all right."

"Huh?"

"Tell him what's going on. He's a religious person. He'll understand."

Rabbi Herschel raised an eyebrow.

Lysander took a deep breath. "Do you believe in the Devil, Rabbi?"

The rabbi chuckled. "Now I'm curious. Are you two here to convert me to Christianity?"

"My brother and I aren't priests, and we're not missionaries. I'm not interested in converting anyone to Christianity, but I do need an answer to that question."

"Do I believe in the Devil? I take it that 'the Devil' refers to the Lord of Hell with burning souls all around him? Is that correct?"

"Yes."

"No. Your concept of 'the Devil's' completely Christian. It's not Jewish."

Lysander and Alcander were stunned by the rabbi's answer. For a moment they were speechless, until Alcander asked a question.

"Well…do you believe in things that're evil?"

"Oh, yes, there're some people who're evil—both Jews and Christians alike. You can call the evil that takes place in the world 'satan,' but certainly not the idea of 'Satan' that you're familiar with."

"Well, my brother and I believe that there's a type of satan affecting this city."

"What do you mean?"

"Cander means that we think that this disease's brought on by an evil person."

"Is that possible?"

"It is, though I hope that this is not the case."

"How can we know for certain?"

"In this case, I can know if it is or is not a satan…I know because I've faced such a satan before."

"Same here," added Alcander.

"Well…"

"Look, Rabbi, it can't hurt any for us to simply investigate—although we'll wear masks."

Rabbi Herschel sighed. "I understand. Don't misunderstand me, I trust you boys; but the problem is…"

"Yes?" asked Alcander.

"The problem's how some Jews feel about outsiders. And you two, as Christians, are definitely outsiders."

"If you came with us they'll have nothing to be concerned about, right?" Lysander responded.

"…I suppose not."

"Good, please take us there."