The Scarlet Devil Mansion stood silently, bathed in pale moonlight and showed no signs of life inside or outside. Meiling was not present at her position in front of the gate nor was there any youkai activity in the area. At first glance, a passerby who had not yet fallen to Sakuya's influence would have thought the mansion was burning in crimson flame.

A distraught half-vampire roamed the halls and moaned in agony. She searched for something, anything, to ease her pain. The floor and ceiling where her presence passed became scorched and distorted with a dark miasma.

"Please, anything… just leave me alone! Get out of my head!" Sakuya struggled to control the power that welled inside her, as well as the being that was trying to take over.

Sakuya, if you stop trying to control me, I can make the pain go away and you won't have to worry about hurting ever again. How about it? Just let me have your body.

"No, I won't allow you to hurt my friends, never!" Images of Remilia and the residents of the mansion flashed into her mind.

Very well, I'll retreat this time. It seems I still require some time before my true power returns. Until then, stay alive my pretty little flower.

The pain subsided and Sakuya collapsed onto the ground. She panted heavily and sweat ran down her face and dripped onto the floor. Looking back, the extent of the damage did not surprise her. This was not the first time Dracula attempted to control her.

A soft voice came from the end of the hallway. "Sakuya, are you feeling better?"

She slowly gathered herself and stood up. "Yes Patchy, I'm fine. Dracula can't take me quite yet."

The bookworm walked over to the maid and began to chant a spell. "This will soothe your aches."

A soft light encompassed Sakuya and her pain slowly ebbed away.

"Thanks Patchy. You're a great friend."

"Of course. Would you like to visit the library? I have something that might interest you."

Sakuya nodded and followed Patchouli down the labyrinth of hallways and stairs until she came to a large wooden double door. Upon pushing through it, she found herself in a gigantic library with at least a hundred rows of bookshelves reaching up to the ceiling about a hundred yards high. Small tables with lanterns on them were scattered between all the bookshelves and a single desk with piles of books on it and two chairs sat in the center of the room. Two small wings could be seen bouncing around over the tops of the books.

Patchy called out, "Koakuma, can you prepare tea for three please?"

"Huh? We have a visitor?"

"It's Sakuya."

"Wha- Ahhhhh!" The books fell down and the small wings disappeared under a large pile.

"Oh dear, Koakuma, can you stop messing around and get the tea already?" urged Patchy.

"… mmmf. mkay." A muffled acknowledgement came from the pile of books and Koakuma climbed out. She dusted off her suit and straightened out her wings. "I'll be back shortly." While walking to the small kitchen on the other side of the library, she slipped on a book lying on the ground and fell over. "Ow! Not again…"

Patchouli sighed and turned to Sakuya. "Well, will you take a seat over at the desk in the center?"

The two sat down and Patchy produced a red book from one of the stacks on the desk.

"This is a grimoire of all the encounters with vampires over the centuries and past millennia. Perhaps you can find a way to better control your new powers and that… being inside you."

Sakuya thanked her and took the book. Upon opening it, a thick cloud of dust exploded outwards and covered everything in a layer of grime. "*cough* this hasn't been opened in a *cough* long time."

Patchouli showed no indication of being bothered by the dust. She was already reading another book.

Despite the friendly air, everyone in the mansion feared Sakuya. No one could tell when she might go on a rampage or whether or not she would recover from it. It didn't have to be spoken, but everyone accepted her as the new master ever since Remilia was defeated. Even Flandre respected her now and listened to every word she said. However, Sakuya was not a tyrant. She treated everyone with care and helped whenever possible. Due to the random outbreaks, Sakuya spent most of her time hiding in the abandoned part of the mansion. The damage she caused was not of her own free will, but rather that of Dracula. Now, she needed to find a way to overcome her new powers and control the dark lord himself.

"The tea is ready," chimed Koakuma as she walked around the desk holding a tray and three cups. "Please enjoy."

Patchouli and Sakuya thanked her and continued reading their books. Koakuma gave an uneasy glance and returned to organizing the desk.

After some time, Patchy broke the silence. "Sakuya, what do you think happened to Remilia?"

Sakuya looked up from the grimoire and remembered the battle.

"I don't know. When Dracula took over… I became lost in darkness. Hopefully she's safe, my master…"

"You really love her, don't you?"

"Well… yes. Remilia gave me another chance at living as myself and not just as a puppet. For that, I owe her my life many times over."

"What would you do if I told you that I know where she is?"

Sakuya nearly jumped out of her chair, but controlled herself and calmly approached the opportunity. "Please, what do you know? And how do you know?"

"I sent a low level familiar out to follow her. It reports back to me through this book right here in my hands." Patchy motioned to the book she had been reading the entire time. "This shows exactly what it sees in a moving image, what the outside world calls a video."

Sakuya looked, and sure enough, she saw Remilia walking with Reimu, Marisa, and Yoshika along a dirt path. They seemed to be enjoying themselves somewhat.

Relieved, she let out a sigh and drank her tea.

"They're trying to save you. Do you realize that?"

Sakuya wiped a tear from her eye. It overwhelmed her with incredible joy to know that Remilia was safe. "What are they doing?"

Patchouli continued, "After visiting Eientei for instructions, they set out on a quest to create a powerful potion that will negate the vampiric blood growing in you. But it's almost impossible."

"Why?"

"Because the last item they need does not exist in this universe. It lies forgotten in a parallel realm that was sealed away before Gensokyo was created. In other words, the item is hidden somewhere in the Gensokyo-before-Gensokyo."

A look of concern came across Sakuya's face. She worried that Remilia would be hurt trying to save her.

At that moment, a voice spoke inside Sakuya's head. Ah, so that's where the little blue haired one went. You were quite attached if I'm not mistaken.

The hair on her neck stood up as she listened to the voice echo in her mind. Without breaking composure, she responded.

What are you doing?

Oh nothing. I just find it interesting that my daughter of all vampires would be trying to destroy me and save you, a human. Well, maybe not so human anymore hmm?

Don't you dare harm her! I will defeat you a second time!

How foolish. You can barely stand my power as it is now, and I haven't even regained half of it. What do you think is going to happen next?

Sakuya knew there was no way she could overcome Dracula in her current state. It was only a matter of time before he took her body and she became his puppet.

"Are you alright?" Patchouli gave her a questioning look.

"Y-yes, I'm fine. Just a headache…"

"Come here. I actually came across some useful information today while reading that grimoire."

Sakuya leaned close and allowed Patchouli to place her hand on her forehead. It was soft and warm, expected of someone who did not perform much physical activity.

A light came from Patchy's hand and Sakuya felt her mind clear and lighten.

"That was a spell I found in the grimoire. It will help bolster your mind and spirit against Dracula. You should find resisting him a little easier now and if anything, this will buy Remilia more time."

"Thank you. I can't lose to him, not now."

"Just don't overdo it."

Sakuya got up and walked over to a large window on the side of the library. The moon was beginning to set. It appeared reddish like blood and excited her slightly.

You can feel it, can't you? Why don't you just embrace what you are already?

No, never.

Haha, as expected of the head maid of my daughter, stubborn until the end, yet graceful and elegant. I like it.

What do you want? I have no trouble controlling you now.

Don't get too sure of yourself. That bolster will help you for a while, but I will become too strong to resist eventually.

Can you not leave me in peace?

I don't like to speak unnecessarily. I thought perhaps you should know that my daughter and her friends interest me. They deserve a present for their determination, don't you think?

What are you planning?!

Oh nothing. But perhaps you should watch in the book over there to find out, hm?

Sakuya immediately returned to Patchouli and asked her what Remilia was doing.

"Same as before. Are you that concerned?"

"I have a feeling that their walk is about to be interrupted by something… But I don't know what. It bothers me greatly."

"Well, it doesn't appear like any- hold on… What's that!?"

Meiling ran through the forest in search of Reimu's party. She needed to find them, and fast. Something that looked like a black mist floated up from the mansion and began moving towards the Forest of Magic. Her senses indicated that it was evil and had only the intention to kill.

"Oh man, where are you?" she grumbled to herself.

The pendant that Patchouli gave her allowed the conversation with Sakuya to be transmitted into her mind, acting as a sort of radio. That's what the outside world called it anyway.

This gave Meiling vital information as to the condition of Remilia and the mansion itself.

Right after the battle, Patchouli gave Meiling the pendant and told her to listen for instructions through it. Until then, she was to stay away from the mansion and hide until further notice. This was the support Patchy expected Reimu would need in the coming journey.

A shadow loomed in front of her, blocking her path.

"Dammit, guess I'll just have to plow through then!"

The shadow formed itself into an imitation of Meiling and imitated her for every move.

"Aw c'mon, seriously?" she whined loudly. "Whatever, I'll still kick your butt!"

Meiling lunged forward with a battle cry to land the first blow.

Dawn was a few hours away.