Disclaimer: I only own Saito and the weredragons. That is all.

Italics indicates thought.
Underline and italics indicates Saito's thoughts.
Bold and italics indicates a location.
Bold text (outside of any normal context) indicates a specific time period.

Author's note1: No lines this time around. After all, everything up to this point has already been explained

Chapter 7: Search For the Seal, Part 1
When we last left the Oricaltos and his friends...

Saito explained how he came to know Mina Hakuba, and then he finally got to meet both Soma Cruz and Daniel Belmont. At this point, Soma asked the mage to for one thing for him: reforge his lost sword, the Claimh Solais. However, the meeting was interrupted by a few familiar faces from Soma's past. Saito disappeared back to his forge, leaving Soma and his friends to battle Celia, Dmitrii, and Dario. After the mage had finished reforging Soma's blade (with a little help from the Devil Forgemaster), he returned to find that Mina had already fled the scene, with Dario trailing her closely. Cruz tossed Saito the Blood Jewel and asked him to find Mina and retrieve the third Seal. Saito obliged, but he also learned that Mina was "the reincarnation of Death" that he had been searching for. After Mina had defeated and Sealed away Bat Company, gaining her first soul in the process, the duo returned to the market just in time to watch Soma finish-off the Gergoth. Immediately after the fight was finished, Saito gave the trio a message for Baal, and then he hurled them back into 1666. It was then decided that all would return to the Hakuba Shrine before moving on. On the return trip, Soma regained all of his original souls, though the reason why is still unknown. Upon arrival at their destination, Saito sent Daniel off to look for his older brother, and then he explained the main part of his plan to Soma. The reincarnation of Dracula was reluctant to agree, especially when he noticed the change in Mina. However, the young woman convinced him that she was still normal, and then the trio was on their way. We now join them in the Entrance Corridor, which is the only place that has not changed much...

Entrance Corridor: Castle Dracula: Eclipse
Time Period: 2040

Saito lead the way through most of the early rooms, with Mina and Soma trailing him closely. However, Soma noticed an immediate change once they reached the first save point. "Hey, I don't remember any passages on the other side of this room!" "The castle must have changed while you were away. Pull out your map, and let's see what else we have to explore." Soma did so quickly, and the trio immediately noticed that there were several unexplored rooms branching-off of the existing corridors. The three sat down to formulate a plan, and Saito was the first one to speak-up about a plausible idea. "How about we split-up from here, and each of us takes a separate passage? I'll head into the new area down here. Soma, get to the study and see if there are any new soul keepers around here. Mina, you should probably head to the Clock Tower, since that is where Death was traditionally located." Both of them looked at Saito, and then they nodded in agreement. It was then that Soma reached into his inter-dimensional pocket and pulled out two extra copies of his map. He promptly gave these to both Mina and Saito. "Here, you take these. That way, you can keep track of where you have been, and you can also note any points of interest." Saito nodded before rolling up his map and storing it in one of his belt pouches. "Well, I'm off. Hopefully, we will all meet at the staircase leading to the Master's Chambers." Both Soma and Mina nodded, and then the trio went their separate ways.

Following Saito: Catacombs: Castle Dracula

Saito proceeded east from the save room and was immediately dropped into a fairly deep shaft. Using his wings to slow his descent, he landed lightly on the floor below, only to be attacked by an Arachne. He ducked under the webbing before removing the beast's head, and he was rewarded with his first red sphere. He smiled lightly before testing his new power, and he was satisfied by how easily his opponents became tangled in the webbing. After killing a few more of the spider-like creatures and descending a few more levels, Saito found himself in a fairly dusty corridor. Peering around the first corner, he quickly pulled his head back in order to avoid the flames from a quartet of Bone Pillars. Grinning wickedly, he waited for the heads to pause, and then he turned the corner and retaliated. "Tsunum!" he called, and the silver fireballs shot from his extended right hand, incinerating the offending structures. He gained a gold soul from three of the Pillars, and then he continued deeper into the passage. He slew several bats, and quickly collected nine souls. He was about to slay the last one before continuing into the next room, but something stayed his hand. He wasn't sure why, but there was something different about that last flying mammal. He shrugged, and then extended his right hand, hoping that he had made the right decision. Shortly before Saito returned from the forge, Richter Belmont had passed on a rumor that Alucard's familiars had both their normal shape and a human one. Saito decided to test this theory on the last bat in the room, and he offered a silent prayer that he hadn't already screwed up. "Revert!" he called, and a beam of white light reached out and touched the flying mammal. The tiny squeaks turned into a cry of outrage, and Saito's eyes widened. Note to self: Remember to thank Richter for the hint about Al's familiars.

The young woman landed heavily on her tail-bone, and she silently cursed her rotten luck. If Master Adrian finds out about this, then he'll..."do what?" came a question from behind her. She quickly spun on her heels, only to stop and gape at the young man standing in front of her. "Excuse me, but how in the hell did you know that this would happen?" The blue-eyed young man smiled and shrugged before responding. "Richter Belmont gave me the hint, and I decided to test it out. You're very lucky that I did, otherwise..." He trailed-off, and the black-haired woman swallowed hard, her golden eyes glittering softly. "I hate to ask you this, but exactly who are you?" "You forgot to introduce yourself, but I think I'll go first anyway. My name is Saito Onago, and I came here with Soma Cruz and Mina Hakuba a few minutes ago." "Wait just a minute. Soma is BACK?" Saito nodded, and the woman glared daggers at him. "Why in the hell did you bring him back here? He was told specifically that he was to stay away from this place unless it was absolutely necessary for him to return!" "Well, I'll give you the short version: Dracula has been trapped in 1666, and he is also the holder of the Chaos Seal. Because Soma is the only one who can enter the Chaotic Realm, he had to return with me. That way, Dracula can get the seal to Soma with little outside interference. Understand?" The woman nodded before stretching her wings. "I'm sorry for not introducing myself earlier. My name is Marissa."

Marissa took a moment to stretch her legs, and then she looked at the mage with a question in her eyes. "On your way down here, did you happen to run into Lady Maria?" Saito lowered his head and then slowly shook it. "I am sorry to disappoint you, but I have not seen any trace of her passage." "Thank you. If you don't mind, I must report this to Master Adrian, but I believe that he will be fairly displeased if I were to travel around with this appearance, for fear that I might be attacked." Saito nodded, and then, with a wave of his hand, returned the young woman to her bat shape. Could you please give Master Adrian a message for me? Of course! What do you want me to tell him? Let him know that his aid would NOT be appreciated unless we specifically ask for it. I understand, and will deliver your message, Master Saito. In return, I will warn both Soma and Mina to watch out for you. In addition, I will also continue to search for the Lady Renard. Thank you! She called as she vanished into a small hole in the ceiling. The mage waited for three minutes, and then he sent his message. Soma, Mina, I want both of you to listen carefully. If you happen to see a bat that is seemingly out of place, do not, I repeat, do NOT attack it. If you do, then Alucard will hunt you down and kill you with his bare hands. There was a momentary pause before Soma responded with a question of his own. Alucard? Who in the heck do you mean by that? Sorry, maybe I should clarify this for you. Alucard is the adopted name of Adrian Fahrenheit Tepes, Dracula's first-born son. Currently, he is going by the alias "Genya Arikado." Oh. Thanks for clarifying, Saito. You are very welcome, Soma.

As the mage continued to travel deeper into the Catacombs, he had a funny feeling that someone else had been here before him. He slew a few Earth Demons and collected their souls, and he also crossed paths with a variety of skeletal foes. He slew nearly all of them, and collected several more bullet souls in the process, in addition to getting his first ability soul out of a Kicker Skeleton. He continued along the path, slaying monsters and collecting souls until he reached a blue door. Pausing for a moment to rest, he drank one of the potions that he had found, and then he entered the door. It slammed shut behind him, leaving the mage trapped in the same room as a foul-tempered, two-headed dragon-zombie. Aw crap! It looks like Shaft decided to repopulate the boss rooms when he decided to take up remodeling this place, Saito thought as he dove forward to avoid the first of several fireballs from the right-hand dragon head. Thinking quickly, he remembered something that he had forgotten to tell Soma, and he silently kicked himself for it. It seems that I still need to tell Soma how to merge his monster souls together. I guess it will have to wait until we meet outside of the Master's Chambers. Jumping into the air in order to avoid a lunge from the left head, Saito retaliated by utilizing his Earth Demon Soul to send a wave of earth slamming into its throat. The head reared back in alarm before roaring angrily at him. The roar was enough to bring down part of the roof, and Saito suddenly had an idea as to how to use this little development to his advantage. Leaping from stone to stone, he quickly reached the eye-level of the left dragon head. After hovering in place momentarily (using his wings, as opposed to the Medusa Head Soul), the weredragon threw three bombs directly into the zombie's face. The head reared back once again before it lunged forward, attempting to swallow the mage whole. However, it was not expecting a stream of silver fireballs to erupt from the man's hands and hover menacingly overhead. The young man smiled grimly before flinging his arms downward and yelling three words, causing all of the fireballs to converge. "Bite the dust!" Saito yelled, before watching the first head keel-over, dead. He then turned his attention to the right head, just in time to see a white light lance out from the dragons mouth. OH SHIT!

Meanwhile, Soma has encountered two very different bosses in his journey to the Study...
Following Soma: Entrance Corridor

Soma passed through the blue door in order to find himself facing an unusual Armor. What in the hell? he thought as he watched the Armor vanish before his eyes. He immediately began to search the room, hoping to find any clues when he suddenly noticed a massive shadow coming from his back. He rushed forward utilizing the Black Panther Soul, just in time to avoid a large sword that nearly split him in half. He turned just in time to see the armored figure disappear once again. How am I supposed to beat this thing? But then he remembered something that had been said to him mere minutes before. He smiled grimly, and then got to work

Begin Flashback

Riala nodded at her boyfriend before turning to Soma. "Just be careful, Soma Cruz. The castle has changed, and nothing is as it seems. Look with your eyes, but see with your mind." She then turned and walked away with Seth. Saito leaned over and whispered to Cruz. "Remember her words, Soma. They may end up saving your life."

End Flashback

Soma closed his eyes and relaxed. He reached out with his mind, and immediately found his opponent. His smile turned wicked as he suddenly spun on his heels, unleashing the full power of the Lightning Doll into the monster. The Hell Knight reappeared immediately upon being struck by the first bolt, and it slowly raised it's sword to end the fight. However, it collapsed before the blade was fully raised, dropping both the sword and an enchant soul. Soma absorbed the soul and immediately felt an increase in strength and intelligence. Closing his eyes, he relaxed once more and reached out with his mind, trying to find Saito and Mina. Beware of the Hell Knights. They have an annoying tendency to teleport. Thanks for the warning, Cruz. Soma then walked over and picked up the sword sitting on the floor. He stored it in his inter-dimensional pocket, thinking that it might prove to be useful later. He then continued on into the Chapel, but here he was slightly puzzled when he noticed that almost all of the ghosts had been replaced by a variety of skeletons. Slaying all of them, he quickly gathered a few new souls before heading for the upper levels.

Chapel Bell tower

Soma looked around, and he was slightly puzzled when he noticed stained-glass windows. "I have a funny feeling that one of those things is going to come to life and attack me. Might as well eliminate that threat while I still can." He drew Claimh Solais and used it to smash the first window outwards. He was not surprised to see something stumble back over the windowsill. However, he was mildly surprised when he received a guardian soul for his efforts. It didn't take him long to collect nine, and then he moved back down to the lower levels before heading to the boss room. However, he was not prepared for what awaited him once the door had sealed at his back...

Boss Room: Chapel

The first thing that Soma noticed was the pool of blood lying on the floor in the middle of the room. It was then that he noticed that blood was still dripping down, and he looked up at the ceiling. "You have GOT to be kidding me! I have to go up there to find the boss? Whatever happened to just finding the boss upon entry?" He then sighed aloud before launching upwards to the higher platforms using the Hippogryph Soul. He launched upwards one more time, and landed on the highest platform. Turning to face the center of the room, he noticed exactly what was dripping, and he nearly gagged. The Manticore that he had been hoping to fight was hanging by a wire. Its tail had been removed, and was being held by a shadowed figure on the platform opposite his position. "Who and what are you?" he called to the shadowed figure across the way, but the figure began to laugh at him. It was an innocent, sweet laugh, and it sounded distinctly female. His eyes narrowed, and then he launched one of his pre-planned spells. "Hellfire!" he called as he launched the triple fireball attack, and he was not surprised to see the figure dodge easily. However, he got a decent look at the figure, and then he smiled before calling across the way. "I am not here to harm you, young lady. I only want to continue on my way, and locate the Chaos Seal." At the mention of the Seal, the figure narrowed its eyes before advancing into the light.

Soma could not keep his jaw from dropping in amazement. The figure before him was a female demon, but it was unlike any that he had encountered in the past. For starters, she was about his height, and nearly his age. Her waist-length hair was jet-black, and her eyes glittered like emeralds. Her wings were black on the outside, but they were blood-crimson on the inside. Soma could clearly see the veins on the undersides of her wings, and her skin-tight costume gave him an idea as to what she was. "Vampire, correct?" he asked cautiously, and the woman stopped, slightly puzzled, before nodding her head. "What gave me away?" she asked, sounding slightly disappointed. Soma smiled before going on to explain. "It was actually your wings. If there had been no veins, then I would have assumed that you were a succubus." The young vampire shook her head in amazement. "You could tell all of that just by looking at me? Who and what ARE you?"

Soma sighed aloud before he raised his head to look into her eyes. "I am the human reincarnation of the man who was once called Vladislav Tepes III il Dragulia, more commonly known as Dracula. My name is Soma Cruz." As soon as he spoke those final four words, the young vampire turned away, blushing furiously. "Please forgive my actions, Master Soma. I had no idea that you looked like this." Soma smiled before shaking his head. "It has been five years since I was anywhere near this castle. Besides, there are only a few people in the past who know exactly who and what I am." "Well, Master Orlox was one of them, and that was only because Dracula told him just before he disappeared." The young woman closed her eyes and lowered her head, and Soma could clearly see the tears in her eyes. "Master Orlox is the reason why I am still around. Originally, Shaft was going to offer me as a sacrifice to please some sort of demon that he had summoned. I was waiting anxiously to be dragged in when Orlox appeared out of nowhere. He took one look at me, and then he smiled for some strange reason. At that point, Shaft reappeared to take me away, and the two of them got into a really nasty yelling match. Anyway, after they had finished vocalizing their opinions, Orlox socked Shaft in the face and sent him into the next room. He then turned, took my hands in his, and told me not to worry. Things got a little blurry after that, but I specifically remember being teleported away from Shaft before passing out."

Soma tilted his head to one side, slightly curious. "In what year did all of these things happen to you?" The young vampire bit her lower lip thoughtfully before replying. "As I recall, the year was between 1660 and 1670." "Is it possible that the precise year was 1666?" Cruz asked innocently, and the woman suddenly froze. She stared directly into Soma's eyes for a few moments, and her jaw dropped in astonishment. "How did you come to that conclusion?" she demanded of Dracula's reincarnation, and Soma merely smiled. "The diralec told me that, but you still haven't answered my original question." "And what, might I dare ask, was that question?" she snapped, and Cruz sighed aloud before repeating himself. "What is your name?" The woman stopped once more, and Soma could clearly see her face turning bright red. She turned away shyly, trying to hide her blush as she spoke a single word. "Karina." A fleeting smile crossed Soma's face as he walked over to her. He then proceeded to rest his right hand on her shoulder as he softly spoke to her. "You have a beautiful name, and I personally think that it fits perfectly."

Karina continued to blush a deep red as she turned to look at Soma once again. "You're the first one to say that to me besides Master Orlox, and I really appreciate it. Now, where was I?" "I remember you saying something about teleporting away from Shaft before passing out, but then you stopped to answer my question." Karina nodded before continuing her tale. "Thank you, Master Cruz. Now, upon waking once more, I found myself in a relatively small bedroom. After inspecting it for several minutes, I wondered aloud if I should go look for the man who had saved my life, if only to take it for himself. Well, he conveniently walked in just as I finished. He just smiled at me before sitting down on the edge of the bed and patting the place next to him. I sat down, and then the two of us had a fairly long conversation."

Begin Flashback

Bedroom: Orlox's Quarter: Castle Dracula
Time Period: 1666 AD

"Well, it appears that my efforts were appreciated by someone other than me," Orlox said with a grin. Karina turned away, blushing deeply. I'm not sure why, but I think that I am falling in love with him. Maybe it's due to the fact that he saved my life, but I don't think that that aspect is the only reason why… Karina thought to herself as she looked over at the vampire. His golden eyes were glittering merrily, and his long black hair was pulled back in a ponytail. "Thank you for saving my life. My name is Karina." "You may call me Orlox, young lady," the vampire responded before slightly narrowing his eyes. "How old are you, child?" he asked casually, and the young woman answered truthfully. "I will be turning twenty-one tomorrow, and Shaft was planning on draining me at midnight." Orlox's eyes glittered mischievously as he leaned over to whisper to Karina. "He won't be able to find you by midnight. Besides, I have other plans for you."

Karina's eyes widened as Orlox bent closer and closer to her neck. He stopped short before staring deeply into her eyes. "Do you wish to be turned, or would you rather stay human?" The young woman closed her emerald eyes and thought for a few moments. "How long until midnight?" she asked, and Orlox looked at his pocket-watch before answering. "You have two minutes until you grow another year older." The young woman suddenly smiled at Orlox before turning away and lifting her long hair, baring her throat to the servant of Dracula. "Turn me as the clock strikes twelve." Orlox smiled before nodding his head. "When Shaft does manage to find us, it will already be too late to sacrifice you." Karina nodded, glanced over at the vampire's watch, and then she began to silently count the seconds until her life would change forever…

End Flashback

"At midnight, Orlox turned me into a vampire. Anything would have been better than being sacrificed by Shaft." Soma thought for a moment before a question popped-up in his mind. "Speaking of the dark priest, how did he manage to get you away from Orlox?" "Well, to tell you the truth, the two of us sat in his room and talked for a while, but then he sensed that something was amiss. We walked out of the bedroom, and Shaft immediately ambushed us. Orlox did his best to defend me, but the monsters were too strong and too numerous. We were separated, and I was tossed into a cell across from the Count, while Orlox was locked in the basement of the Clock Tower. Master Dracula was a little surprised to see me alive, and I told him how worried I was about Orlox. He told me not to worry, and then he said that he had some information that he wanted me to pass onto you." "Really? What did he want me to know?" "He said something about consulting Graves about the new portions of the castle, but that was about it." Soma nodded thoughtfully, but then another question sprang to mind. "Do you know where Dracula is right now?" Karina sadly shook her head before answering. "I have no idea. He was relocated to a different cell about fifteen years ago, and I haven't seen him or his wife since." "Thank you, Karina. Now, if you don't mind, I need to go check the Study for any new Soul Keepers." The vampire turned away, but then she slapped her forehead, as if she had forgotten to tell him something. "Speaking on the subject of souls and Soul Keepers, I have some information for you, in addition to a new ability soul."

Soma's eyes grew wide as Karina cupped her hands, and a silver orb appeared between them. This she offered to Soma, and he took it without question. Immediately upon absorbing it, he felt that there was something, well, different, about himself. He then looked at the emerald-eyed vampire, allowing his eyes to ask the question. Karina giggled lightly about the major change in Soma's appearance before she decided to give him a straight answer. "I merely gave you the wings that you earned so long ago, Soma Cruz. In addition to raising your attack, defense, speed, and intelligence, there is a fairly neat trick that you can now pull-off. Allow me to demonstrate for you," she said as she reached up to grab the topmost spines of her wings. The young woman then pulled up on the spines before removing them entirely from her wings. The reincarnation of Vladislav Tepes III il Dragulia could not keep his jaw from dropping in amazement as Karina ended her demonstration by holding out two cross-hilted longswords.

"Your turn," she said with a grin, and Soma immediately set his jaw. He then closed his eyes and relaxed as he reached back to his own wings. The top pinions instantly conformed to his hands, and Cruz smiled briefly as he drew both blades. He held both swords before him, and it was now Karina's turn to gasp in awe and wonder. "How is it possible?" she stammered as she looked closely at the blades. Soma's smile widened as he opened his eyes and looked down. "Well, it is my weapon of choice," he said easily, noting that he was holding two exact replicas of his favorite blade, the Claimh Solais. He brought both hands together and fused the swords, doubling the strength of his recently reforged weapon. He then sheathed it at his left hip before looking up at Karina once more.

"Now, you also mentioned something about Soul Keepers, correct?" Soma asked, and Karina nodded her head before launching into her explanation. "I was wandering the halls when I noticed several Soul Keepers that were clumped together in one particular spot. As I approached them, I noticed something fairly peculiar…" "What was it?" Soma asked eagerly. "It appeared to me as if most of them had some sort of aura surrounding them." Cruz raised an eyebrow at this final remark. "I think there might be a plausible explanation for this phenomenon. How many different colors did you see?" "Well, there were eight in all. I'll list the colors in the order that I first saw them: silver, jet black, ice blue, emerald green, gold, blood-red, amethyst, and auburn." The reincarnation of Dracula scratched his head and thought for a moment. "Well, I know that the silver ones are mine, and my best guess is that the black belongs to Mina." Karina looked slightly puzzled by this statement, and Soma sighed aloud before explaining. "Mina Hakuba is the current reincarnation of Death. She also happens to be my girlfriend." Karina blushed furiously. "I'm sorry! I had no idea that you were in a serious relationship." Soma shook his head and gently smiled. "That's alright. Anyway, back to what I was saying. Emerald is yours, the gold is probably Alucard's, and auburn automatically goes to the resident weredragon. But that still leaves us with three colors…"

Karina scratched her head, slightly puzzled. Then, she remembered something from her own past. "Actually, I have an idea as to who two of the others might be." Soma fell silent and listened as Karina explained. "Orlox only wore blue clothing, but he preferred ice blue above all others. And, for some unknown reason, Lady Renard has always loved the color amethyst." Cruz nodded and smiled. "That leaves us with one, but we'll eventually figure it out. Anyways, thanks for the new soul, and the lessons as well." "You are very welcome, Soma Cruz. Good luck in your endeavor." "You too," Soma added as the two shook hands before they went their separate ways. He was about to enter the study when he heard a fairly loud mental curse. OH SHIT!

Meanwhile, we join Death, err, Mina's, travels through her journey to the Clock Tower…
Following Mina: Floating Gardens: Castle Dracula
Time Period: What do you think? (2040 AD)

Stupid birds, Mina thought as she split another Red Crow in half and took its soul. Why won't they ever learn? She sighed in relief when she reached the save room, but she was slightly puzzled when she saw a door on the opposite side. "Wait a minute… I don't think that this door was here last time." Sure enough, she checked her map and noted that the area beyond was marked in gray, meaning that it was unexplored territory. After healing her wounds, she took a deep breath and stepped through the door into a small room. This one had another door, and a small vertical shaft that Mina could not climb. Cursing silently, she proceeded into the next room, and her eyes lit-up instantly. SOUL KEEPERS! There were several of the torch-like objects on the floor, but one in particular grabbed her attention. Mina lashed out and split the black one, and a silver soul rushed into her. She walked back out of the room, and then decided to see if the new soul could help her to move onward. She leaped at the closest wall, and her feet immediately stuck to it. Cool! I can use this soul to climb that stupid vertical shaft and see what else lies in this new area, she thought as she sprang away from the wall. The newly-christened Death then proceeded to climb the vertical shaft by bouncing from one wall to the other, and after several leaps, she finally reached the top. Pausing to catch her breath, she then proceeded through the door in front of her.

Chapel Tower: Castle Dracula

Mina walked into the next room, and the first thing that she noticed was the breathtaking stained-glass windows lining the wall to her left. "I don't think that those were meant to be decorative," she thought aloud as she cautiously approached the first one. She swung her scythe at the window, and she wasn't surprised to see it shatter. However, she was surprised when she gained a guardian soul out of it. She continued down the hallway, smashing the Stained-Glass Knights and gaining souls at a tremendous rate. After climbing the next set of stairs and slaying three Flame Armors, Mina came to a solitary blue door. She approached, and it silently slid open, granting her access to a large open-air room. As she passed over the threshold, the door silently shut behind her, effectively trapping her in the room. However, this fact did not attract her immediate attention. Rather, it was the tall, slender man pacing back and forth on the floor below who caught her eye. She paused in the shadows and fell silent, hoping and praying that she had not been spotted. As the figure below made another pass, Mina could clearly hear some of the vilest curses directed at the dark priest.

Boss Room: Chapel Tower

"Curse you, and whoever brought you into this world, Shaft," Malphas swore aloud as he turned away from the wall again. How long has it been since I was trapped in here and that thrice-damned priest clipped my pinion feathers? Two, three hundred years? Or more? "Damn you, Shaft!" he cursed once again under his breath as he continued to pace. The long black hair of the King of Ravens was hanging in a tangled mess at his knees, and his golden eyes were dull due to a lack of sleep. He gazed wildly around the room, searching for a way out, when he noticed a shadowy figure standing near one of the doors. His eyes narrowed as he realized that he finally had a target for all of his frustration. He bent his knees before double-jumping to one of the higher platforms. He then double-jumped again, landing on the platform opposite the shadowy figure. He spun on his heels and drew his broadsword before pointing it at the surprised figure. "Who are you, who sent you here, and what do you want from me?" the King of Ravens demanded.

His opponent blinked sheepishly before stepping into the light. "My best guess is that you are Malphas, correct?" "Yes. Now hurry up and answer my question!" he snapped at the robed figure. Wait a second… ROBED figure? Ah crud, what have I done THIS time? he thought as he cautiously began to shift away. The figure sighed gently before lowering the hood and shaking out waist-length light brown hair. Malphas' jaw dropped, and the young woman giggled lightly before extending her right hand. "I get that look alot these days. My name is Mina Hakuba, and, as you can already tell, I am the current Death. I came here with two close friends of mine, and I only want the ability soul in your possession so that I may continue my journey to the Clock Tower." The King of Ravens smiled as he transferred his sword to his left hand, and then materialized the soul orb in his right. However, he withheld it for a moment.

"Before I give you this, I want you to make me a promise." "Sure! What do you want me to do, Malphas?" Mina asked eagerly. The young man hung his head in shame before speaking. "Well, I was just wondering if you could heal my wings in this time period. If not now, I want you to go into the past and heal my wings in 1666." Mina paused and bit her lip thoughtfully, but then she smiled brightly. "I'm not so sure about healing you right now, but I know for certain that one of my friends can heal you in the past." The man's eyes glittered with hope and thanks as he gave her the silver sphere. "Thank you, Mina Hakuba. I must warn you to stay alert for the Lightning Armors in the next passage, but other than that, there is only one thing: Beware of the Doppelganger in the Clock Tower boss room." Mina clasped her hands before her and bowed. "Thank you for the warning, King of Ravens. Take care of yourself!" Mina called as she left the room. As she continued to climb, she heeded Malphas' advice and took out the Lightning Armors first. Her soul collection continued to grow as she moved further and further up the tower. She stopped to catch her breath near the last door, and she was about to proceed through when she heard a familiar mental voice. OH SHIT!

We now briefly rejoin the Oricaltos, just in time to for him to teach that stupid dragon zombie a lesson…
Following Saito: Boss Room: Catacombs

OH SHIT! Saito tried to dodge, but the blast ended up slamming into his chest, throwing him against the back wall. He tried to stand, but immediately fell back, clutching his midsection. OUCH! It looks like I might have cracked a few ribs. If I take one more hit like that, then I may be out for a while. The mage's eyes narrowed to slits as he looked up at his opponent. "Alright. No more time for fun and games. You pissed me off, and now it's time that you pay for your actions," he snarled as he spread his wings and rose into the air. The dragon zombie eyed him warily before snorting in disgust. Saito's eyes darkened as he raised both arms above his head. "I invoke thee now: all that is light and dark, I call upon you once again. Lend me the strength that I need to crush my foe once and for all!" As he spoke, and ice blue ball of energy materialized over his head. The mage then looked down at his opponent, and he snarled one last word before unleashing his attack. "Die. FINAL DESTINY!" The sphere shot down and slammed into the dragon's chest, disintegrating it instantly. A red soul orb appeared out of the cloud and shot into Saito, who promptly collapsed onto the floor. After that, a red sphere, which looked distinctly like the inside of an eyeball, appeared and healed the mage of all of his injuries. He stood up, brushed-off his clothing, and then proceeded through the next door. As he continued to travel through the lower levels, he met with a young vampire who had crossed paths with Soma already. The two joined forces, and they continued to slay monster and gain new souls as they unknowingly drew closer and closer to Soma Cruz.

At the same time, Soma is approaching the Study boss room, unaware that he is leading one of Alucard's familiars directly to his bride, Maria Renard…
Following Soma: Study: Castle Dracula

He's probably fine, Soma thought to himself as he entered the main portion of the Study. He then proceeded towards the boss room, slaying every monster in his path. However, he still had this unshakable feeling that something was following him. He rushed ahead and stopped just inside the teleport room, and he was not disappointed. A decently-sized bat flew out of the corridor and then soared around in confusion. Cruz closed his eyes and opened his mind, reaching out to the flying mammal. Who are you, and why are you following me? he snapped, and the bat tumbled towards the floor in surprise. Darn it, Soma! How did you catch-on to me? Well, maybe it's because I am currently watching you from inside the teleport room. Did THAT thought ever occur to you? No… I'm sorry about this, but I am only following Master Adrian's orders. I think that Miss Maria is in trouble, and I sense that she is nearby. However, I do not know the way… Soma narrowed his eyes, but then he sensed it too. There was a battle in the boss room, and he felt desperation coming from one of the two combatants. Picking-up the familiar, he settled it carefully on his left shoulder. Hang on tightly. I don't want to accidentally leave you behind. The bat nodded and clung tightly to his collar as Soma began to rush through the halls, utilizing the Black Panther Soul once more.

It took him little time to reach the boss room, and it took him even less time to figure out that the door had been sealed against him. Swearing silently under his breath, Soma shooed the familiar off his shoulder before drawing Claimh Solais. He then started to furiously hack away at the door. It shuddered and began to splinter under his assault, and then Soma smiled as he heard a distinct crack. Sheathing his sword, he then braced both hands against the doorframe before kicking it in. He immediately followed the door fragments with one of his nastier Bullet Souls…

Following Maria: Boss Room: Study: Castle Dracula

Maria Renard swore silently under her breath as she dodged another slice from her frost-haired opponent. The duel had started when she entered the room, and all she had to show for it were some serious injuries to her back and midsection. She continued to dodge the sword and the lightning, but then she noticed that the door behind her was splintering under some unknown assault. Taking a gamble, she rolled to her left as someone kicked the door in. She passed under three door shards and a lightning blast, and she was also in the perfect position to avoid the unknown person's follow-up attack. "HELLFIRE!" Maria's enemy raised his head, and his pure silver eyes grew wide as he saw the incoming fireballs. He tried to dodge, but it was already too late. All three fireballs slammed into him, tossing the young man into the opposite door, hard. He shifted into his smaller bat form and lunged at Renard's savior, only to be knocked out of the air by a number of sharp projectiles. "You can try all you want, but allow me to say this: I absolutely refuse to let you escape this room alive, Doppelganger," the man snarled before stepping into the light of the room. Maria's blue eyes widened when she saw an exact duplicate of her foe walk into the room. However, she immediately noticed a few things that made this one different.

Every single piece of clothing, right down to the socks, was the same for both men. They also had the same hair color and style. However, that was where the similarities ended. Maria blinked twice as she began to focus on the little things. First, the newcomer wore a white and crimson ring on his left hand, in addition to two steel chains. One was wrapped around his right wrist, and the other circled his throat. Next, she noticed the difference in eye-color. Her opponent had eyes that were a solid silver color, while the new man's eyes had visible flecks of crimson in them. However, there was one major obvious difference that set the two men apart. The newcomer, the one who had barged-in to save Maria's life, had wings.

The bride of Alucard could not help but stare in shock and awe at the wings of the man who rescued her. They were, simply put, angel's wings. They were fully and brilliantly feathered in white, but there was a single stripe of black feathers that stretched from wingtip to wingtip. This was not what confirmed that the young man had come to save her. Rather, it was the tiny ecstatic squeaking that was coming from behind the young man. He smiled briefly before lowering his wings, and the lady Renard smiled at the sight of her husband's most loyal familiar. Marissa zoomed happily around Maria's head for a few moments, but then she stopped and dove angrily at the larger, silver colored bat that was trying to escape. Maria's savior sighed aloud before sweeping his wings back. He then violently swung them forward, calling out a new attack. "Wing Shards!" Maria was quick to grab Marissa and duck out of the way as the tips of the man's wings magically broke-off and transformed into a series of wicked looking needles. The attack pinned the Doppelganger to the remaining door and forced it to revert back to human form. Soma (who else did you think it was?) shook his head sadly as he drew the Nebula rapier from his inter-dimensional pocket and offered it to a very surprised Maria. He smiled gently. "The honor is yours, Lady Renard."

She took the rapier and bowed her thanks to the young man before striding over to the copy. She then proceeded to stab it through the heart, causing it to crumple into dust. It left behind a collection of multi-colored spheres, and these proceeded to slam into Maria's chest. She stumbled backwards, falling back into the waiting arms of Dracula's reincarnation. He smiled gently before helping her stand after all of the souls had entered her body. "Be very careful, Miss Maria. Try not to let all of that power go to your head." Maria gingerly felt for any injuries, but the recovery sphere had already taken care of all of them. She turned and looked at Soma, sweeping long blonde hair out of her face as she stared into his eyes. "I would thank you properly, but I don't think that we have ever met before…" Cruz mentally sighed and prepared to answer several questions about who and what he was. "To tell you the entire truth, I am the human reincarnation of Vladislav Tepes III il Dragulia. My real name is Soma Cruz."

"I think we already know that, kid. Now get in here, before I get pissed at you too!" called a voice from just beyond the doorway. Soma's eyes widened as he recognized exactly who was speaking. "Is that really you, Saito?" "Of course it is! Who were you expecting, Orlox?" Maria raised an eyebrow at this comment, and Soma chuckled dryly before responding. "Nah, I was actually hoping for Karina, but that doesn't really matter now." There was a loud smack, followed shortly by a slightly irritated mental comment. OUCH! What was that for? Well, for starters, you wouldn't let me finish, dummy! Now, as I was saying… Soma recognized the other mental voice and he gently smiled at Maria before calling through the door. "Hey Karina!" "Yes, Soma? What do you want now?" "Well, I was just wondering if you could hold-off on the explanation until both Lady Renard and I are in the room." There was a brief pause, and then the younger vampire responded happily. "Why not? Come on in, you two, and I'll explain everything…"

As Karina once more launches into her explanation (with a little help from Soma), Mina is facing an entirely different scenario upon returning to the Floating Gardens…
Following Mina: Floating Gardens: Castle Dracula

As Saito's mental yell died in her ears, Mina sighed once before pushing open the door. She instantly froze in her tracks, and her acid-green eyes widened with horror. She was standing across from the dreaded black door, but this is not what caused her to freeze. Instead, it was the large number of Alura Unes that had sprouted which worried her the most. She raised her hood and tightened her grip on the scythe as she cautiously stepped into the room. She tried to attract as little attention as possible, but it was already far too late. One of the younger Aluras spotted her, and Mina bit her lower lip to keep from crying out. However, the rest of the so-called "Venus Weeds" were quick to notice the presence of a stranger in their midst. The violet eyes of the eldest narrowed as she snapped her vines at the young woman. "Who are you, and why are you here?" she demanded, and Hakuba gathered her courage before snarling back. "My true name is Mina Hakuba. However, I am also Death, so don't try to cross my path." A few of the other plants flinched out of her way, and Mina paused briefly before continuing. "If you don't mind, I have a few appointments to keep in the Clock Tower." "For your information, I do mind, especially if you came here with that idiot Soma Cruz," the head Alura snapped. However, she was quick to realize her mistake when Mina's eyes narrowed to slits. "No one insults my boyfriend like that. Unless, of course, you have already endured everything that he has gone through over the past five years," she snarled at the hateful plant.

As she turned to storm away, the youngest gently and insistently tugged on the back of her robes. "Miss Mina?" she asked, gently pleading with Death's reincarnation. "Do you think that you could give a message to Master Cruz for me?" Mina stopped in her tracks before slowly turning around. She then walked back to the young plant and knelt down next to her. "Certainly! What do you want him to know?" The young blonde (she appeared to be no older than seventeen) lowered her head and averted her eyes. "Master Orlox told me this nearly twenty years ago. He should be very careful when passing through the black door. The succubus is a skilled illusionist, and only Vlad could see through her tricks. If he truly possesses the Master's soul, then he should not have any problems." The woman raised her head gently, and Mina found herself staring into a pair of eyes that were mirrors of her own. "Please, set Master Orlox free. He is trapped in the basement of the Clock Tower." Mina gently smiled at the young Alura. "Is there anything else?" The woman sadly shook her head as she spoke six more words before falling silent once more. "I want to be myself again." Mina tilted her head to one side. "What is your name, young lady?" "My full title is Alicia Maria Danielle Cortez, and I was once" "a draconic," Mina finished, much to the plant's surprise. "How did you know that?" "Well, I already know that most draconic titles are longer than human names. Besides, I also know one in particular." "Really? Do you remember his full title?" Mina sadly shook her head. "Alas, I have forgotten most of it. However, I do happen to remember three of his names. Saito Nathaniel Onago." Alicia's eyes widened as she stared at Death. "You know SAITO? Is he actually here?" "Yes, he is, and she should be up here shortly." With that, Mina left behind her newfound friend and proceeded through to the higher rooms.

After asking one of the quieter Aluras for directions, Mina proceeded to the Clock Tower. Here, she was surprised to see a slender man wearing a black suit. Her eyes glittered merrily as she rushed over to him. "Mister Arikado! What are you doing here?" The man turned and his eyes widened as he braced himself before enfolding Mina in a hug. He then held her at arms-length, and scowled. "What brings you here, Mina Hakuba? I thought I gave specific orders that neither you nor Soma were to return here unless I specifically asked you to." Consider those orders as overruled, ADRIAN FAHRENHEIT TEPES, a mental voice snarled from the lower halls of the castle. Arikado frowned before he closed his eyes and reached out with his mind. Who are you, and why did you bring them here? Allow me to say this, Alucard: Soma is the only one who can get the Chaos Seal from your father. THAT is why I brought him along. As for Mina: Well, she just wanted to learn about her new powers. New powers? What in the hell are you talking about? Mina is the newest incarnation of DEATH, Alucard. The original disappeared with your father in 1666. Dracula's eldest son paused for a minute before "speaking" again. So, you and your friends are the ones who are gathering all of the Belmonts together in one place. Exactly. Sorry for the late introduction, but my full name is Saito Alexander Daniel Michael Nathaniel Alan Jeffrey Onago. Please, just call me Saito. Will do. Is Maria alright? He heard a different mental chuckle before Soma answered. Your wife is fine, Alucard. Now, would you PLEASE get out of Mina's way? She needs to go free Orlox and then beat another Doppelganger of me. Fine, fine. I'm moving, Cruz. By the way, how many teleport rooms have been activated by all of you so far? There was a brief pause, and then Soma came back with his tally. As of this point, we have found and activated six. Thank you, Soma. That is all that I needed to know.

After the conversation had concluded, Mina watched in awe as Alucard went back to his traditional appearance. His dark hair turned pale, and his eyes changed from dark brown to gold. However, the most dramatic change was his clothing. In the span of a few seconds, he had gone from being a shady government agent to a sixteenth-century noble. He bowed easily at the stunned young woman. "Please accept my sincerest apologies for deceiving you. This is my true appearance." Mina smiled easily before shaking her head. "That's alright. I've started to get used-to all of the strange things that I have seen so far. Anyway, I need to be moving-on." Alucard nodded his head before speaking again. "I believe that Soma has a message to give you." Mina smiled before nodding her head, not noticing the sword materializing behind her. "I think I may have heard it already, but I have some information for him as well. If you don't mind, Master Alucard?" The dhamphir nodded his head before silently signaling to his sword familiar. I need you to keep a close eye on Mina, Sophia. I'll do my best to keep up, sir. Thank you.

As Alucard turned and left, Mina closed her eyes and reached out to her boyfriend. Hey, Soma. I have some new information for you. What is it, Mina? Well, for starters, SOMETHING clipped Malphas' pinion feathers and trapped him in the Chapel Tower. He asked me to heal him, but I wasn't sure about my abilities. Don't worry about it, Mina. I'll make sure that he recovers, both here AND in 1666. THANK YOU! Anyway, onto the next piece of information: The exit at the top of the tower is directly across from the black door in the Floating Gardens. BUT, it is guarded by six Alura Unes. SIX? You must be JOKING me! I'm afraid that she is telling the truth, Soma. Anyway, I sense that you have one more thing to tell him, correct? Yes, I do. One of the Aluras wanted me to give you a warning. The succubus is a skilled illusionist, but if you truly have the Master's soul, then there should be no problems. Thank you, Mina. Now, shouldn't you be working on finding Orlox? I'm going, Soma. See you at the final staircase!

Author's note2: CRAP! Looks like I overcommitted on this chapter. Anyway, it looks like we won't get to see Mina free Orlox just yet, but that is coming next. Besides, there are still bosses to fight, souls to locate, and one hell of a rematch in the Master's Chamber. All of this is coming up in my next chapter, Search For The Seal, Part 2. In the meantime, please remember to READ AND REVIEW. Thank you.