Hi this is the next chapter! I'm sorry I haven't been updating lately! Here's the next chapter! Enjoy! Please review!

A large lake stood in front. Ducks swam and quacked at the appearance of them.

"Why, there is nothing here!" Pilika stared all over to even find a single small house. Nothing. Only trees, ducks, and the huge lake that led to the river.

"That's what you think, there's more than meets the eye", Len turned his eyes and slowly grinned.

"I've heard rumors, that there used to be a castle here. Which belonged to vampires..." Tamao turned to see Horohoro's and Len's eyes in sorrow.

"There used to be, until they destroyed it." Horohoro added.

"But, we've build another, in time, but it's not as pretty and big as the other" Len turned to face the woods.

"Who destroyed the castle?" Pilika curiously asked.

"No one, forget it, never mention this again." Len quietly said.

In a moment, Len and Horohoro placed one hand on their chest. A bright light shone visible on their hand. A broach was held in their hands. It was a six star shape one. It had a black pearl in the middle, In the middle of the black pearl stood a small piece of a ruby.

And a decorative vine as a border.

Slowly, gates covered with vines full of roses appeared in the middle of the lake.

Shocked as they could ever be, Tamao and Pilika followed Len and Horohoro toward the bronze gate.

Their tiny feet touched the cold waters of their river, to their surprise; their whole body did not sink to the bottom. As they took a step, it almost looked as if tear drops were

falling.

Up ahead stood a castle as big as Anna's. It was never seen before by the human eye, until now.

Let us go to Anna and Yoh

Anna had been walking for more than an hour. Wondering aimlessly.

"Damn it, I forgot I was supposed to wait for Jun to show me were I was supposed to meet the damn king. Now, I'm lost and have no hell of a chance getting out of here…damn it!"

"Is that how you are supposed to act when you are a princess?"

A cold shiver ran through Anna's spine. She froze in fear thinking it could be the king. She felt a presence standing just a few inches away from her. Anna turned unaware of what might happen. No one was in sight. Only lay the pitch black wall with candles hung up.

"It must have been my imagination……….." She suggested.

"Guess again…."

Out of no where, appeared a green haired boy. He had his eyes green as the grass, and he wore brown clothes that looked just like a tuxedo. He was around the age fifteen.

"You must be the legendary princess Anna. Am I right?" He grinned.

Anna stood with fear, not letting her guard down for a single moment.

"Allow me introduce myself. I am Lyserg; I was born in London but raised here Pleasure to meet you." He lifted her hand gently and softly layed a small peck.

She shifted her hand immediately, placing it against her chest.

"And I am Anna, and may I remark to you to keep your distance?" She coldly said with piercing eyes.

Lyserg walked all around her, examining every inch of her. His steps echoing through the entire castle.

"So you are the princess lord Yoh has been keeping watch one."

"What? He has been spying on me?"

"I didn't say he was spying on you. I said he kept close watch on. No follow me."

"Where? And why should I trust you?"

"Because you are one of us." Lyserg wickedly grinned.

Without any further questions, Anna decided to follow.

Back at the castle

"The princess is gone! Notify all of the town at once! Make sure every inch of the castle and village are inspected!" The queen announced.

Morty walked aimlessly toward another side of the castle. He looked back and Faust stood there with his basket full of medication.

"So, your friends disappeared?"

Morty looked back and answered with a gloomy tone

"Yes, we have no idea where they are. They just disappeared. And the queen won't even give out a reward to find them. The queen only cares about herself."

Faust looked down as if remembering his horrible past.

"Why would you care about what happens to my friends?"

"Because my fiancée disappeared, they only found her petite shoe and a lock of her hair covered in blood. Ever since then, I've become an obsessed man. In every opportunity I try to help in any I can, so I may just get a hint to what happened to Eliza."

He looked up and saw the sadness burn in Morty's eyes. He walked toward Morty and grinned with pleasure.

"I have an idea for you to get out of this dreadful castle."

Lets get back to Anna

"We have been walking for almost an hour. Don't tell me you're lost!" Anna lifted her voice.

"No, we are here, your majesty." Lyserg smiled as Anna stood confused.

There, stood a painting of a woman in a black dress. Her hair was tied in a bun. Her cheeks were as pink as pink blossoms. She was beautiful. But who was it?

"There is nothing here you fool. Only this painting." Anna pointed at it.

"Your right, but what about behind it?" Lyserg grinned.

Anna touched gently the painting; she moved it toward the left. A door stood behind the painting. It had engravings on it. She stood there, unaware of what to do.

"Thou may open the door now." Lyserg turned and looked down at Anna.

She slowly pushed the door forward, a fireplace stood in front. She checked her surroundings with caution. Nothing in sight. Only a table and two chairs stood at the corner.

A book shelf covered the whole room. Books covered the every inch of the wall. Another door was at the end. With caution she opened the door revealing a long large table. It was wood carved and candles stood on top revealing light.

A wood carved chair stood on one side, another stood about more than eight feet away. The table was longer than Anna's table.

"It reminds me of home" Anna whispered to herself.

"Well, why don't you make yourself at home?"

Anna turned with such a fear, that even her legs began to tremble.

She turned, and there he stood almost over her shoulder. His calm eyes showing no expression. He stood there with a small smile watching her every move.

"What are you looking at!" she demanded.

"Nothing." He shrugged.

"I was thinking of how nice you look." He grinned, while closing his eyes.

Anna blushed, but not even for a sec.

"Please sit!" he took out a wood carved chair and bowed.

She grabbed her dress into a bun and covered it over the chair.

He clapped his hands together; a woman in a maid dress came to his swift command. She had blonde hair as Anna, except longer. She had it in tied in a ponytail.

"Eliza, bring out the food." He demanded.

She nodded and smiled at Anna with generosity

"No thanks, I don't eat a vampire diet." She said in a serious tone.

"But you do eat dear, don't you?" Yoh backfired.

Within a sec, Eliza brought several dishes of food on a cart. She put a small bowl on Anna's side of the table and poured some type of soup.

"What is this?" She questioned.

"It's something other than poison, if that's what you're referring too." Yoh grinned.

She carefully took her small spoon and dipped it in her soup. Chunks of meats floated around. She carefully put the small spoon in her mouth without any more thoughts. Her taste buds savored with such delight.

The question was answered, it was delicious. Now, what was it?

"It's deer meat. And the soup is made out of the purest herbs and made out of the cleanest blo-"

"Blood?" Anna finished.

"Yes."

"Why am I here?" She demanded.

"You should know that."

"Why don't you explain?" she asked in a matter of tone.

"I'll let you figure out. Wouldn't that be fun?" he grinned.

She stood and knocked the chair down, "It won't be fun! I need an explanation now!"

"Princess Anna!"

She turned toward the echo and saw Pilika standing with a welcome smile.

"Pilika!" Anna ran and embraced Pilika with an open heart.

"Princess Anna, you are safe." Pilika spoke cheerfully

Suddenly, Horohoro appeared with Tamao in his arms. Her pink hair swiftly moving back and forth.

Without furthermore thoughts, Anna raced toward her fainted friend.

"She's asleep. She just needs rest." Horohoro pointed out.

She turned to see Yoh, smiling back at her. Was he doing this to make her happy? Was it a scheme? What was he doing?

"You are welcome to stay the night." He smiled.

"Why should I? How do I know I can trust you!"

"Well, I brought your friends. It's raining and there's the probability the villagers are on the hunt for you."

Pilika turned and questioned "The villagers tried to attack you Lady Anna!" she questioned.

"It is a long story." She answered.

"Come, shall I show you the rooms?" Yoh questioned.

After many thoughts, Anna answered "Yes."

He walked through the hall way passing many doors.

He stepped in front of one, opening it.

"This shall be Tamao's room."

Horohoro layed the delicate pink one on the bed. Yoh followed toward the next, "This is Pilika's."

She took a look around; there was a bed, a small table and typical drawers.

"Sweet dreams my lady." Pilika curtsied and closed the door.

He went down two doors and turned toward another hallway.

"Why is my room so far?" Anna questioned.

"Because this one is fit for a princess, or should I say queen?"

He opened the door, revealing a room twice as big even bigger than Pilika's and Tamao's.

A large bed stood at the corner, and several drawers and items were placed in the room. Anna recognized it; it was the one she was in.

"If you need any female assistance or any other kind, June's room is four doors down. My door is across the secret room you entered. You may use anything you find in the room. Sweet dreams princess." With that, he gently closed the door, leaving his footsteps echoing the hallway.

She sighed deeply; closing her eyes to make sure it wasn't a dream. She made her way toward the window which was about 8 feet away. Frightened of thunder, she quickly closed the curtains. Again, she held up the drawing of the woman laying on the drawer. She checked every aspect of the room; the huge wood carved dresser caught her eye. She moved her way toward the dresser. She unlocked it and opened it, revealing several sets of clothes. Jewelry, clothes and string to sew and other objects were inside. A ruby and diamond pearl broach caught her eye. It had several small diamonds decorated as a border, and a big white pearl stood in the middle. A full ruby stood in the middle of the white pearl. She examined every inch of it; finally, she took hold of it. Suddenly, in a blink of an eye, the pearl became grayish black. Frightened, Anna accidentally dropped the broach. Scared that it might be broke, Anna took hold of it to check. Nothing. It was beautiful even if it was a grayish black.

"They say if a vampire takes hold of a pure white pearl, it will turn pure black".

Frightened, yet calm, Anna turned to See Yoh standing at the door. He held some sort of clothes. It was non other than Anna's old clothes and cloak. He placed it on the huge bed.

She faced up to look at his hazel nut eyes.

"I see it's true what they say. However, yours did not turn pure black, but a grayish black." He sat on the bed still having his eyes locked on Anna's.

"However, my mother's never turned black. It always stayed pure white. We never knew why or how. It just did."

"You aren't supposed to budge into someone's room like that." Anna crossed her elbows and nodded at Yoh.

"Sorry, I just brought your clothes." He grinned. "I want you to wear that broach please. You look beautiful with it." He smiled, in a flash he was no where to be found.

Shocked, Anna checked her room every inch to see if he was there. No, he was gone.

He walked carefree out of all his problems. His steps echoing through this large castle.

"Lord Yoh." Out of nowhere, a young green haired boy appeared.

"Late night isn't it Lyserg?" Yoh smiled.

"Are ye sure it is not a problem for Mistress Anna and her friends to stay here?"

"Why would you say that?"

"Your brother." Lyserg stated.

Yoh's expression changed.

"Lock the gates. Make sure he doesn't go near my castle, or near our princess. Inform everyone." He commanded.

"Yes my lord." He disappeared into the night.

Anna checked her surroundings. No one in sight. She slowly closed the door. She tiptoed out of the hallway where Jun's room lay. After opening many doors, and going through many passages, Anna found her destination. Where the painting lay of the woman. She examined every inch of it. It was the exact woman from the drawing.

"She must be Yoh's mother." Anna stated to herself. She carefully pushed it aside revealing the door. She silently opened it. The fireplace stood there aside, however it was on. Confused, Anna looked up. To her surprise, a young man stood there glaring at the fire with his hands shoved into his pockets. He stood sideways toward the fireplace. She did not recognize him unlike Yoh's vampire friends. The shocking part was that he looked just like Yoh. Except, his eyes had a powerful glare and he had long hair tied into one braid. Frightened, Anna quickly yet silently closed the door. She sighed and turned around.

A strong wind blew and loudly opened the door again. To her surprise, the young man was not there in his place! He wasn't in the room! Were he? Anna frightly thought to herself.

Suddenly, Anna felt strings of hair fall on her neck and a cold breath climb up her neck, "And who might you be?"

To be continued……………………..