Chapter VII: The Time For Action

Something seemed wrong to Serenity, it was not just the fact that Lord Dracula had returned, that in itself should have been impossible even for him. All around her was darkness, she remembered having lost consciousness after drinking Dracula's blood, but that was not troubling her.

"Nathan…" her thoughts raced, "he's in trouble…everyone is…"

At that Serenity's eyes flew open and she sat up. She was no longer in the caverns, but somewhere on the first floor she gathered. Upon standing her head spun and she fell back to the floor with a silent thud.

"You should relax for a few more minutes before you go dashing off." Dracula's voice spoke to her.

"Where are you Lord Dracula?" Serenity asked the empty air, she could sense him along with the emotions of her friends, but she could not see him anywhere.

"I am with you, my dear. I am on the upper most floor standing outside the throne room. It would seem your brothers and friends are in dire need of assistance. Should I…?" Dracula answered but was cut off by Serenity's voice shouting into the air.

"No, do not show yourself to them."

Slowly rising to her feet once more she eyed her sword braced against the wall a few feet away from her.

She staggered over to it and continued, "There is no doubt they have sensed you already, but I do not want you getting involved with this. I do not need your help."

Dracula's laugh rang through her head, "Do you really think I am doing this for your benefit my dear Serenity?"

A beam of light appeared behind her and in an instant Lord Dracula stood in the hallway with her.

"Those fools took over this castle after I was sealed, by my hand I will take it back."

Serenity sheathed her sword and turned to face him. She could not fight him now, not when her family and friends needed her, and certainly not after drinking his blood. She had tried that tactic before when he had first turned her into a half vampire.

"If you wish for your castle back then you may have it, just stay out of my way while I free my brothers and friends." Serenity said sternly looking directly into Dracula's eyes. They were pools of red and if she had continued staring into them she would have been under his control. "I care not what happens to Chaos and the other two, but Morris is also in the castle. I would like it if you left him alone for the time being."

Dracula smiled at her, the tips of his fangs poking out against his lips ever so slightly.

"You are not giving me orders I hope." he laughed.

Before Serenity could answer a scream sounded throughout the entire castle.

"Mina!" Serenity yelled and began charging to the stairs.

"Serenity, stop." Dracula called after her, but she did not stop. Serenity ran up to the second floor and was just reaching the next set of stairs when she ran into Dracula.

"You never listen do you?" he stated with a sarcastic smile playing on his lips.

Before Serenity could protest Dracula transported her to the throne room door. He said nothing as he left her, but Serenity called after him in vain.

"I told you I don't need your help!"

Facing the door Serenity drew her sword and backed away from the door a few feet. Other than her sword of fire and the occasional outburst of flames Serenity rarely relied on magic. Concentrating all of her focus on her sword the flames grew larger and hotter until Serenity's forehead was dripping with sweat. She charged the door and with a mighty slash she knocked half of the door to the throne room clear across the room. She ducked under the top part of the door and was welcomed with the shouts and demands of her brothers and friends.

"Serenity! Quick move to the middle of the room!" Simon called to her.

Without delay she ran to the center of the room. It was fairly dark in the room but she could just make out what had ahold of everyone.

"What on Earth?" she questioned anyone who would answer.

"You have to get out of this room!" Isaac shouted, "These are the demon arms that are in the bloody lakes but they are different. They cannot take damage."

At that several arms shot out of the eastern wall straight towards Serenity. She dodged them with ease and slashed at them, but what her brother had said was true.

"Damn" she said quietly. She was at a loss; the arms were a problem even when they could take damage. If she could not deal them any damage at all what was she supposed to do?

"Serenity!" Nathan called to her, but he was a fraction too late.

Lisa's knife drove itself into the right shoulder of Serenity, making her cry out in pain.

"It will not be as easy as that." Lisa sneered at her.

She walked silently into the throne room and continued as Serenity pulled the knife out of her flesh, "How do you like them? I must admit even I was surprised by how effective these blood arms were against your pathetic friends."

Serenity said nothing to her; she dropped Lisa's knife to the ground and steeled herself.

Lisa smiled at her and charged, but in that moment an arm circled her and caught her in its grip.

"What in the hell are you doing you worthless thing?" she demanded of it.

In once swift motion Lisa was pinned on the wall just like all the others, enraged she glared at Serenity. "You! What did you do?" she screamed at her.

Again Serenity said nothing; she sensed something was not right. Chaos would not have created these monsters if they would attack Lisa or Camilla, would he? He was not that desperate, he could not be. Suddenly Serenity was surrounded by crimson arms as the flames on the candles burst to life.

Dodging and slashing Serenity made her way to the other side of the room and called out to her friends. "Does anyone have any ideas?"

"Get out!" Eric demanded. Serenity looked up to him as he continued, "Get out of the castle Serenity. Something is not right here; you will not be able to help us this time."

"No Eric! I'm not leaving you." she shouted back to him as she avoided another assault.

They started at each other, neither one backing down.

"Serenity, I command that you leave this instant." Eric said sternly.

"He's right Serenity; you can't do anything for us." Hugh agreed.

"No!" Serenity screamed.

Suddenly Serenity was pulled off her feet and crashed against the floor. She began sliding backwards as an arm dragged her against the stones.

"No…" Serenity thought, "I have to do something, after all we've been through it can't end here. Not like this."

Rage started welling up inside her, and then a voice sounded inside her head. "Perhaps you should have taken up on Lord Dracula's offer.

"No…" Serenity said as the arm twisted itself around her.

"Serenity!" Trevor shouted.

A dark aura settled in the room and the voice continued inside Serenity's head, "Or maybe you want to take me up on my offer?"

Through clenched teeth Serenity repeated, "No…"

The arm rose bringing Serenity with it towards the wall. She was fighting the tears now, she did not want this. She did not want to give in to him, not again. Serenity wanted to rescue her friends on her own because she did not want her brothers and friends to see her with Lord Dracula, to see that she had feelings for him.

The voice laughed in her head, "I told you, my dear, that you would give in to me again one day soon."

Serenity's sword began to grow dimmer and deeper in color.

"Serenity, no!" Nathan called to her, "Don't give into it again, not this soon! Serenity!"

But Nathan's pleas fell before him, unheard and unanswered.

Serenity closed her eyes for a fraction of a second and when she opened them again they were as deep and as red as the arm holding her.

"No!" Serenity screamed, and at that a huge burst of black flame extinguished the bright red flame of her sword.

The arm dropped her and was then severed by the now black flame sword. Serenity landed with ease on the ground and stood perfectly still as more arms surrounded her.

"So, the demon shows her true colors once again." Lisa said with a forced smile.

As the arms circled her, Serenity did not move one muscle, she did not even look at the arms. Without warning five attacked from different directions. Blinking then hardening her eyes Serenity leapt into the air as the arms collided under her. In a scream of rage, and with a sweep of her arm an enormous wall of fire swallowed the five arms that were after her as well as the others circling her.

"Serenity!" Nathan called out again, but she did not even look towards him.

Clapping could be heard as Chaos and Camilla walked into the room through the divided door.

"Bravo my dear, I knew you could show your true self if provoked enough." Chaos beamed looking into her crimson eyes.

Serenity said nothing; she only stared at him, her rage growing by the second.

"Unfortunately, these are not my doing." he continued, "They are…"

"Mine." a sinister voice drifted into the throne room. It seemed to come from every shadow in the throne room. One of the shadows lifted from the floor and took on a human shape.