Author's Note: I want to let everybody know that I may have been wrong on the date Romanians celebrate Christmas. I learned recently that it's celebrated on December 25th, but in the 1820s I think Romania was still using the Julian Calendar. I know that Russia was, which had control over Romania at the time. But if I'm wrong, please forgive me.

In my heart I reach you.
In my heart I reach out to you.
In my heart I touch the face of God.
In my dreams somehow--
"Arc of Space"—Bruce Dickinson

Seuche in Deutschland

Chapter XVI

The date was Friday, January 16th. One week had passed since Adrian, Lysander, Alcander, and Christian defeated Alric. And to celebrate, the four hunters attended a weekday mass at the small Catholic Church near Lysander's apartment. Adrian, Alcander, and Christian had originally intended to return to Romania earlier in the week, but they decided to stay and observe more of the city after Lysander stated that he intended to stay. Lysander wanted to hear the response from his superiors to Ingo, but the four did write letters to their loved ones to inform them that all was well, and that they would return home shortly.

As Adrian, Lysander, Alcander, and Christian left the church, Ingo called to Lysander.

While he charged over to him, Lysander said, "This must be something important, considering how fast he's running. Something tells me that he received a letter from Romania…What is it, Ingo?"

"I…I received a letter from your superiors in Wallachia today."

"Oh?" Lysander replied, not even worried about the contents of the letter.

"This is all queer to me, but your superiors told me that I should be thankful that you're conducting an investigation—that is, to stop this vampire crisis. And then, they mentioned that your father's a famous vampire hunter, and that your uncle's family has hunted vampires for centuries." Ingo paused to look at Alcander. "Finally, they told me that a few years ago you, your brother, your cousin, and a companion named, Brian, went on a mission to defeat Vlad the Impaler. I know of Vlad the Impaler, or Vlad Tepes; and I remember you telling me about how you're distantly related to him. But…he's been dead for centuries! Truly, you Romanians…you can't believe in something so fictional as a vampire, can you?"

Lysander smiled, shook his head, and placed his hands on Ingo's shoulders. "Ingo, my friend, there's much about us Romanians that's queer to the Germanic peoples. The fact that we celebrate Christmas on January 07th and not December 25th is but one example…"

"That's only because of the differences between the Gregorian and Julian Calendars!"

Lysander chuckled. "Yes, that's true…Maybe this is how I should explain myself…In Romania, you'll find things certainly not found in the West. Our ways're simply not you're ways, and beliefs like vampires live on in the minds of the people. Most of the time, these beliefs're easily refuted…But then, there're times when they're not. Whenever vampires're suspected they're always investigated, and the method used in that investigation's one that Western scientists should be familiar with…It's called the 'Scientific Method.' I could tell you what me and my brother's research concluded for us …But…I seriously doubt that it'd matter, because the West'd never accept it…"

"Which means that you found something!"

Again Lysander chuckled. "Yes, we found something. Western scientist'd have a hard time accepting it, but at the same time it was all very real."

"You shouldn't be too hard on my son," interjected Adrian.

"Who're you?"

"I'm Adrian Tepes. I'm the father of Lysander and Alcander. It's a pleasure to meet you, sir."

Adrian presented Ingo with a warm gesture, before he turned to Christian.

"And this is their cousin—and my nephew—Christian Belmont."

"Pleasure to meet you, sir," Christian said with a smile.

Ingo was confused—especially after everything he had read about these men from the letter—and now all of them stood before him.

But Adrian smiled. "Anyway, remember one thing. Just because the enlightened scholars've declared something not to be true, doesn't necessarily mean that it is. For example, from the time I've spent in Berlin, I've seen a number of Catholic and Lutheran Churches. In fact, the four of us recently left mass. Now, all these churches believe in God, but—if I remember correctly—the French scholar, Voltaire, said that God doesn't exist; but the majority of Berlin's citizens seem to disagree."

Ingo sighed. "Well, I guess you do have a point, sir."

"Thank you," Adrian said, while he returned his smile.

"I can't say that I understand everything…But I guess there're a lot of things in this world that nobody can understand."

"Exactly!" replied Lysander.

"…I take it that you're soon to return to Romania?"

"Yes, I believe that the four of us'll leave tomorrow."

Ingo nodded. "I understand…If you've some time today, please stop by and visit me."

Lysander smiled. "Will do…Oh, and Ingo?"

"Yes?"

"I've a favor to ask of you."

"What is it?"

"Do you remember when I asked you for the information on that mutilated body that'd been found on New Years Eve?"

"Yes."

"Well, I want you to make certain that nobody in the Prussian Government tries to find the Jews at fault based on their own prejudice. The day that Cander and I visited the morgue, the mortician tried to place the blame on the Jews simply because they're Jewish. The mortician tried to tell us that the Jews stole the man's corpse and used it for some blood ritual in their synagogue. I want to let you know those Jewish people'd never do that. They're good people…"

"You needn't worry, Lysander. I won't let any harm happen to their community."

"Really?"

"Yes. Rabbi Herschel's our contact with the Jewish community of north Berlin. I know there're some people in this city that want to blame the Jews when it rains or snows when they expected sunshine…But I'm not going to let them harm that Jewish community."

Lysander nodded. "Thank you."

"You're welcome, my friend…Well, I should probably go. I need to see how things're at the palace…But do stop by my house before you leave."

"Will do!"

After Ingo left, Alcander turned to his older brother.

"Sander?"

"Yes?"

"What you said to Ingo made me think of something."

"What's that, Cander?"

"I wonder how Rachel's doing? You know, the Jewish girl that we encountered on New Years Eve?"

"Of course, I remember…And when you say that, it kind of makes me wonder how Stephen's doing? You know, that sixteen-year-old?"

"Right, I remember…Maybe we should try to visit them before we leave the city? To see how they're doing."

"Yes…I think we should."

"Well," interjected Adrian, "this appears to be something that you know better than we do. I think that Christian and I'll observe the city some more, while you go and visit those two people."

Lysander and Alcander took a carriage to the Gutzke residence. Above Stephen's bedroom window still hung a crucifix.

"You think that's there more for protection now?" asked Alcander.

"Probably."

When the brothers knocked on the door Mrs. Gutzke was stunned by their presence, but at the same time she was jubilant.

"Mrs. Gutzke?" began Lysander.

"Yes!"

"I'm not sure if you remember us, because it's been over two weeks since we last saw you, but…"

"Of course I remember you! You're that Romanian ambassador that told me what I needed to do to save my son."

Lysander smiled. "Yes, that's me. How's your son doing?"

"Wonderful! The doctor said he'll make a full recovery."

Alcander smiled. "That's great! Would it be all right if we chatted with him for a while?"

"By all means!"

Lysander and Alcander chatted with Stephen for about half an hour, before they secured another carriage to northern Berlin. Because the epidemic fears had subsided, the driver agreed to take Lysander and Alcander to the entrance of the Jewish ghetto.

"I thought about something, Sander."

"What's that, Cander?"

"Something tells me that we probably can't simply go and visit Rachel."

"…You're probably right, considering how her father was last time…Perhaps we should visit the rabbi instead?"

Alcander nodded. "Agreed."

When Lysander and Alcander walked through the ghetto they decided to take a moment and pass by the Sherwin residence. Outside of Rachel's bedroom window, the Star of David remained.

"Looks like they took our advice," Lysander said.

"They did indeed. And because they did, it repelled that vampire from entering her room."

"I wonder if Rabbi Herschel was able to find something in his Tal-mud…Was that what it was called?"

"I think so."

"Anyway, I wonder if he found something that'd stop vampires?"

"…I guess we'll have to find out."

When Lysander and Alcander entered the synagogue they discovered Rabbi Herschel in his study. The rabbi was reading over a Hebrew scroll when Lysander called to him.

"Well, hello, boys," Rabbi Herschel said with a smile, while he rolled up the Hebrew scroll. "It's certainly interesting to see you two boys again."

"Well, we wanted to come by," replied Alcander. "We're leaving for Romania tomorrow."

"Oh, I see. Going back to your home?"

"Yes, back to our family," added Lysander. "But before we left we wanted to ask you a question."

"All right?"

"How's Rachel? Is she doing all right?"

The rabbi returned his smile. "She's doing very well. I'm glad that you two're concerned for her well-being—that means a lot!"

Alcander smiled. "Did you find anything in the Talmud about vampirism?"

"Well, yes and no. I didn't find anything directly about vampires, but it did direct me to a book that dealt with evil spirits."

"What book's that?" asked Lysander.

"The Book of Tobit. You two're probably familiar with it, because it's in your canon of the Old Testament that we refer to as the Tanakh or the Hebrew Bible. We eventually rejected it—along with the rest of Septuagint—before the conclusion of the first century of Christianity; but it remained in the Christian Church, although Martin Luther and the Protestant Reformers did away with it as well."

"My brother and I aren't experts on the Old Testament, so what does the Book of Tobit say?"

"The story tells of the angel, Raphael…I'm sure you've heard of him before. He's a saint in your church, correct?"

"St. Raphael the Archangel?" replied Alcander. "Of course!"

Rabbi Herschel smiled. "I thought so…Anyway, Raphael tells Tobit—who's set to marry a woman named, Sarah, that's possessed by a demon—to burn a fish's heart and liver over some incense. The scent of the fish's organs, along with the incense, is powerful enough to drive out the evil spirit."

"Along with most of the people in the room," said Alcander.

"That seems a little queer to me…But it worked for St. Raphael, so I guess I can't say too much against it," responded Lysander.

"Along with this, we also recited Psalm 91," added the rabbi.

"What does the Psalm say?" asked Alcander.

"He that dwelleth in the aid of the most High, shall abide under the protection of the God of Jacob. He shall say to the Lord, 'Thou art my protector, and my refuge. My God, in him will I trust.' For he hath delivered me from the snare of the hunters and from the sharp word. He will overshadow thee with his shoulders, and under his wings thou shalt trust. His truth shall compass thee with a shield. Thou shalt not be afraid of the terror of the night. Of the arrow that flieth in the day. Of the business that walketh about in the dark. Of invasion, or of the noonday devil. A thousand shall fall at thy side, and ten thousand at thy right hand. But it shall not come nigh thee. But thou shalt consider with thy eyes, and shalt see the reward of the wicked. Because thou, O Lord, art my hope; thou hast made the most High thy refuge. There shall no evil come to thee. Nor shall the scourge come near thy dwelling. For he hath given his angels charge over thee; to keep thee in all thy ways. In their hands, they shall bear thee up. Lest thou dash thy foot against a stone. Thou shalt walk upon the asp and the basilisk, and thou shalt trample under foot the lion and the dragon. Because he hoped in me I will deliver him. I will protect him because he hath known my name. He shall cry to me, and I will hear him. I am with him in tribulation. I will deliver him, and I will glorify him. I will fill him with length of days, and I will shew him my salvation."

"…That's very interesting," replied Lysander. "At least we known Rachel's feeling better."

"Yes," smiled the rabbi, "she'll make a full recovery."