Hello! Hope this chapter won't scary you ... Hmm, it might! O.K., keep reading and reviewing!

Chapter 12

The Sacrifice

Seline was sitting at the bar desk, waiting for Lora. She also felt strange fear about something. 'Better her to come as soon as possible,' Sel thought, looking at the visitors of the 'Lost Garden': most part were humans, of course, others were werewolves. The last time she's been here, werewolves never visited this place as it belonged to vampires' hunting territory. While the vampiress was remembering her past, Lora appeared finally. She hasn't changed at all: the same short messy hair and curious cherry eyes. It was clear that Lo has just from the assignment as she was wearing that leather suit, Seline was wearing the same. Old friends embraced tightly, but emotionless. Victor's lessons of discipline and honor were still fresh in their memory. They set at the table in the darkest corner to talk.

"Looking good! This hairstyle suits you so! It makes you … a woman," said Lora, caressing her friend's long hair.

"Hmm, you think I was rude and cruel like a man?"

"Sometimes. Hey … wait a minute, why are you smiling without stop, you're almost shining!"

"You won't believe it!"

Sel told her about the child and how it has happened after Dracula's return. The girl opened mouth, her eyes became wider:

"Wow … You – a mother! Can't imagine!"
"It's true. I was not less surprised. First I wanted to kill her, my daughter, but Angelica reminded that I'm a turned vampire and won't be able to become pregnant next time."

"I heard about pregnancy of us, but … children were born dead … Aren't you afraid?"

"No, I'm sure my daughter will be able to live … I'm just afraid that I can't protect her well."

"Well, I help you and Alex, too."

"By the way, how's life? What's with guys?"

Lora told her about their life after Selin was exiled. When troop 'C' lost their leader, the Council separated them and sent into the other troops which were specially organized for useless, but dangerous assignments.

"It's like they wished all of us to die!" exclaimed Lora, Sel stayed calm, she expected such future for her command.

Then Lo said that Alexander as the only natural vampire in the troop has been returned to the family. His relatives wanted him to marry one girl from the nobility, but he disobeyed and broke all relations with his family.

"Now we're working together and have more chances to survive in this crazy round-robin of life."

"O.K., what about Mirek?" Seline wanted to hear something about her best friend long ago, she has always trusted him more than anyone else, even Lora and together they built plans how to kill the Red general and destroy the whole Holy Order.

Lora's face became sad:

"He … He was on an assignment and … met Malletty. You know how Mirek hated him! They fought and … Mirek died …"

Sel rubbed her temples, keeping breath:

"How …"

"That bustard from the Order cut off his head … I … I mean me and Alex took his ash and buried in the main vault."

"So I need to say him last words …" whispered Seline and rose from the table:

"I don't want to lose a second …"

The old castle of Victor has turned into a big vault. In times of Victor's ruling the dungeons were mostly used as place where turned vampires-assassins were buried in simple urns under their own numbers. Nobility had own vaults and thought that Victor's idea of giving turned ones such privilege – nonsense.

Seline walked around the long shelves with urns, on some she saw names, scrawled by friends of killed. Lora showed her the urn with Mirek's ash and left, giving her few minutes just to say 'Goodbye'.

Selin kneeled at the urn, staring at black number '1134' and said:

"Hello, Mirek, my friend. How long we've been together … I remember that day when Victor introduced you and Karen to me. We were such a great commend together, then Lora joined us … You and Karen … First she left us, then you … As the leader of the troop 'C', I swear on your ash and Karen's eyes, Angelic told me that those who die always watch for us – half-alive vampires, from hell, I swear to kill Malletty for you. Mirek, say 'hello' to all we lost and prepare a place for me in hell. See you soon …" she kissed the cold white urn and left, her stiletto-heels stamped the stone floor. Life hasn't finished for her …

Meanwhile high above the busy streets of Manhattan where people celebrated Christmas Eve, on the roof of the skyscraper demons in white were waiting for Dracula, who was in the other part of the city, thinking.

'What am I doing? Diana will probably suffer … Much worse … the whole world will be ruined …'

He looked back at Diana; she was drowned in trance and was lying on the bed, staring unto the ceiling with empty eyes. Vlad rubbed his eyes, feeling weak and helpless; he hated Lucifer even more than Van Helsing and wished not to let him to return back.

'Doubt, my son? Vainly … I'll give you what you asked and even more… Think about your precious Seline … I can hurt her, you know I can …' sounded cold Lucifer's voice in count's head.

'If you try, I'll kill Diana, you know I can.'

'So we agree? Hurry up! The black moon rises!'

Vlad cringed like feeling cold somewhere deep in his heart, he began to walk from wall to wall, his hands clasped formally behind his back.

Diana, who has already awoken from her artificial sleep, watched his moving like a tiger in the cage.

"You a great sinner …' the girl said calmly.

"Really I am. Haven't noticed yet?"

"Haven't you tried to ask for forgiving? He waits for it …"

"I'm forsaken. I'll never be forgiven"

"'The one who sinned would be forgiven …'", she sang, rising hands in a strange pray.

Vladislaus came closer, looking down at her, so young, so beautiful and yet so innocent. The girl didn't move, feeling his cold breath on her face when he crouched at her bed. They were so close …

"Are you afraid?" he asked in a whisper.

"All people are afraid of something … of height, of insects for example. I'm not an exception … I've always been afraid of rats."

"Rats?" Dracula grinned at her.

"Yes, rats. I thought they're nasty, but after being in that prison I think they're not bad."

"So … no fears left?"

"Only one … very funny. I'm afraid of loneliness … Promise that you won't leave me … when it'll happen …" she took his hand in hers, looking at him with hope. Vlad felt a shiver, running across his hand from her gentle touch. Heavy fog filled his head. He then released afraid of this feeling.

'The world has gone mad," the vampire thought, then stared deep into her blue eyes, hypnotizing her and took on hands.

'Forgive me, Diana, I have to do this.'

Hundreds of eyes were watching large red star with six corners in the sky. Its rays were streaming down to the roof of one skyscraper. All Holy Order forces were evacuating people. In one crowd with them Council's powers sneaked like flashes. Seline was now in a lane, staring at the Third Seal of Hell. She heard a noise behind her back and directed her pistol in stranger. Her Vladislaus stepped out from the darkness, smiling at her:

"Want to kill me?"

The woman took away the weapon, smiling back:

"Where've you been?"

"Seeking for you, my love … hmm, you've changed … What happened?" he snaked hands around her waist.

"Well, later, O.K.?"

"So many Holy Order's rats here … I'm going to take care about you."

"I can protect myself and you, by the way … Listen, I've got to tell you one thing, it's important," he stopped her with a gentle kiss.

"Hide. I don't want you to be hurt."

"I won't hide! I'm going to save Diana! I know she's on the roof just below the Seal! But some barrier didn't let me to fly there."

"It means you should sit in a shelter. I'm serious, save yourself …"

"Aha, and miss all fun! I'm staying! Hey! You're able to take me to the roof! I've seen you flying through it!" she exclaimed, making him nervous.

"Bad idea …"

"Why? Please, take me there!"

Vlad was losing time and Sel's stubbornness was awfully annoying. He took her on hands, then turned into his hell-beast form and flew into the sky.

Gabriel noticed him flying and transformed into werewolf. He then jumped on the balcony of a skyscraper and was immediately thrown on the ground, making a hole in it.

'What's he doing?' thought Seline, watching him right below.

Count landed on the roof gracefully, but didn't let his woman to run to Diana, holding her tightly.

Dia certainly needed help … She was lying on the cold floor in white dress, her wrists were cut and blood was streaming from them, filling tiny canals, which were going round the perimeter, drawing the Third Seal. The same as in the sky. Demons were saying something on ancient demonic. With each word the girl flinched, screamed and arched her back like the obsessed.

"Diana! We should save her!" Sel shouted, but Dracula didn't let her go.

"What's going on! Why don't you help her! Why … "she asked, then her eyes rolled: she understood everything.

"You bustard! You're with them! How could you! And … I! I was such a fool when trusted you! I hate you! I'm …" she stopped kicking and fighting with him, feeling weakness in whole body. Pregnancy made her tired. Vlad pressed broken vampiress to him, caressing her hair. Her words made him nervous.

"The Dark Lord is coming … Why did you bring her here!" said one of the demons about Selin, crying from weakness and uselessness. Getting Dracula's look, the demon hurried to return back to others.

Dia then screamed for the last time and closed eyes.

"You killed her! Let me go! I'll …"

"She's not dead, calm down!" Vladislaus squeezed her in his grasp; she felt well and protected with him, but tears left her eyes

"Why are you doing this? How can you?..."

The count kissed her into forehead, escaping her strikes.

"All's ready … THE SACRIFICE! SAINT SACRIFICE WILL RETURN YOU! COME BACK AND SO SHALL BE IT … THE APOCALYPSES!"

With fear and thrill humans and night creatures watched the Seals united. Waves of black energy blew like an evil wind, crashing everything on their way. The circle of flames and the huge dark figure enveloped in them appeared high in the sky, which turned into bloody red. Diana was lying on the roof like a beaten angel. She was sleeping… sleeping and seeing light, beautiful dreams …

A-a, WARNING: Diana is not dead! Let her to be a Sleeping Beauty! Well, yes, the devil returned ... It was in my plans. Yours Sincerely, with lots of Love -Russian Vampire-