Bodies dropped down with a heavy thud and Alice wiped a bit of blood of her cheek. The young girl then proceeded to rip off the drapes covering the crates that were in the storage room which Archduke Matthias had requested. Once the heavy fabrics fell to the floor, she smiled, a slow and sinister twist of her pink lips. "It's time to play." She took out a glowing Soul Edge shard and it radiated with a sickening aura.

Inside the cage, the lamia hissed and her eyes turned yellow. "Get away from us. You reek of blood and death." Her children moved behind her and whimpered with fright. Beside them, Aeon also growled and snapped his jaws threateningly at the shard.

The room was full of crates and weapons from Matthias's soldiers and it was dimly lit from the one torch dead soldier was holding. Four of them were behind Alice and they stared ahead with lifeless eyes, wielded by the master puppeteer. With a mocking smile, Alice said, "Now, is that any way to talk to the person who's helping you?" She twitched a few fingers and the dead soldiers surrounded the two cage obediently. "I killed these nasty guards for you, you should be thanking me."

"What do you want," snapped the lamia impatiently.

"I just want us to have fun." She then winked at Aeon with her blue eyes. "I know for sure, you won't be disappointed by the banquet tonight."

The raven that was was perched on a crate cawed and took flight, ready to observe the deaths that would follow that night. The young girl deftly plucked a fallen black feather out of the air and mused, "Mistress Tira will be pleased..."

Raphael looked over as some soldier opened the doors to his cell. Keeping quiet, he eyed them warily before noticing the red outfit they were carrying as well as his Flambert. What were they up to?

Behind his helmet, the soldier said gruffly, "You are to change into this and accompany us upstairs. Make a single sound or any unnecessary action and we'll make sure you regret it."

Talim opened her arms and as she stood beneath the starry ceiling of the ballroom, she asked quietly, "What woman or man here has never lost a love one? You remember the pain, don't you?" She directed the question to them all and looked at them with eyes that were so deep, it was a beautiful sea of of emotions and wisdom. Her long red ribbons clinked as she began walking towards them. "Malfested or human, we all know how much it hurts to lose someone. So why?" Talim swept out a hand and the few nobles in front of her immediately drew back. She repeated softly, "So why? Why kill them because they're malfested? You may have made a woman a widow or a child an orphan. All this hate will only raise up a generation of sorrow, tears and vengeance."

The crowd looked away uneasily and the uncomfortable silence grew.

Talim paused for a moment before turning her back and walking back to the middle of the floor. Her small footsteps echoed through the quiet ballroom and she whispered,"I've seen so many people die just because both sides misunderstand each other. It is heartbreaking that many of you can't see how precious life is." She cast her head down sorrowfully. "The wind sees everything that lies beneath the heaven... and I have seen for myself, what wretched conditions the malfested have to live in. One would not treat even a beast so cruelly!" Talim's voice rang through the ballroom and slowly, she removed her medallion and held it up. The sun and moon symbol sparkled as it dangled from her hand and Talim said, "I lost my love seventeen years ago... and he was a malfested."

Whispers and surprised gasps passed among the nobles and ladies of the court and among them, Dumas felt his breath caught in his throat. "Talim..."

Bringing the medallion to her chest, she said to the stunned crowd, "The moon and sun are both so beautiful. Just like the dance you've just witnessed, they're much more beautiful when they shine in harmony than when they fight against each other. Just as night and day share their time, why can't we share this world for the sake of peace?"

A woman waved her elegant gold fan and said disdainfully, "The malfested are a danger to us all. They could turn into monsters at any time and kill us without any effort! They must either be eradicated or they must be imprisoned and controlled somewhere, away from us." She opened her arms and said, "They're just not safe!"

Talim wore a downcast expression on her beautiful face. "They're humans like any of you. They only bear the curse of having their minds and bodies warped when their lives or those they hold dear are threatened. If we try to help them instead of persecuting them, there can be peace." She clasped her hands together. "The wind sees all and loves all... and like the wind, humans and malfested are both beautiful in my eyes. I ask you all to listen to the wind that circles this world, and perhaps you might understand how I perceive things." As if hearing her words, a gust of cool air rushed through the pathways that led from the balconies and it caressed them lovingly. "Can you hear it? The wind that touches you and sings for you also sings for the malfested."

All the humans and malfested in that room breathed in the fresh scent of nature and the air tossed their hair in a playful manner as Talim watched. The soft lull of the wind sang for them and in a moment of magic and wonder, fireflies filtered in slowly, bathing the slightly dim ballroom in ethereal green light.

There were audible sounds of amazement as they all looked at the twinkling lights flying around them.

Talim smiled and said sadly, "My love hated the world because of the way it had treated him. He wished each and every one of you ill because it was the same way he and his daughter was treated. I treated him with understanding and respect and he returned the sentiments." Her eyes met Dumas as she continued. "Though we may be wrong and we may hurt others through our weaknesses, we are real and we are all human. Because we are human, we can change and rectify our mistakes. Forgiveness and understanding isn't hard to obtain, all it takes is one person to give it a try." Talim's eyes met them beseechingly as she held out a hand towards them. "Please, Dumas, stop the purge. Human or malfested, we are all a part of this world and I love them all..."

Talim stood there and waited for him, hoping that he would listen to her words. Their eyes bore into each other from the distance and both of them kept still as the fireflies continued their lovely dance around the ballroom. The crystals in his ceiling continued to twinkle silently and everyone waited for his answer.

After awhile, Talim began to think that her efforts may be in vain and that he would punish her for her speech. But then the dull thud of his knee high brown boots echoed across the floor as he made his way towards her. When he finally came to a stop in front of her, she looked up at him with her deep and intelligent brown eyes and waited. She couldn't help but tremble slightly as he towered over her, fearful of his answer. Finally, he reached out and took her smaller hand in his. With the other one, he reached for the hand that was holding onto the medallion. For that moment, they just stood there in their very own world, surrounded by green fireflies and standing underneath a copy of the night sky.

In a near whisper, Dumas asked, "Why are you doing this?"

She knew what he meant. He was asking her why she was risking her life like this to force his hand. If he didn't agree with her, she would die for these words. If he did agree with her words, then he would have to fight many highly esteemed nobles at court to protect her life and go against the malfested wishes to seek revenge. She was... selfish to do this to him.

With regret, she said, "I'm sorry, Dumas. I... can not ask you to forgive me for doing this to you."

"You're not afraid that I would say no and take your head right here and now for this?" His voice was steady as he said that.

Talim took his hand and put it on her heart. "I owe you my life. If you wish to kill me, then go ahead. All I ask is that you spare Raphael and stop your Purge... now or sometime in the future when you think about my death." Lowering her head, she murmured, "Though you must come to hate me now."

Despite being used like this, he didn't hate her. Tilting her chin up, he replied, "My love for you... is greater than my anger. Talim, I..." He took her in his arms and kissed her, and the whole ballroom erupted into loud gasps. Holding her protectively in his arms, he said loudly, "I have my announcement for you all! Besides the Archduke Matthias, I am also an heir to the throne!"

"What?!" Matthias and everyone in the entire room was shocked.

Dumas took out a roll of paper and rolled it open. "The emperor's own seal! Take a good look! We will have the senators take a final vote between the two of us, Matthias." He glared at them all. "Not only that, this woman here is my future wife."

Talim gaped at him. "Du-Dumas, what-"

Before she could finish, they were under attack. Glass shattered with a thunderous sound, sharp shrapnel rained down on the guests and furious flames briefly lit the room in a mix of orange and red as a giant lizard flew in. Its large sparkling white wings fanned out, carrying the beast as it swooped in and immediately launched itself at someone. Within seconds, the throat of the screaming woman was ripped out and blood dripped down its jaws. With a hiss, it raised its sharp axes and howled.

"It's a monster!" screamed a frightened noble.

"Malfested! Demons! Someone, help!" A scared lady covered her headress and ran away crying.

An enraged senior glared at her as he headed for the doors. "You see! They're a plague! A blight upon our world! They'll all become like this and kill us in the end! They have no control!"

"No... no." Talim leaned against Dumas and shook her head, her eyes full of disappointment and sorrow while Dumas grinded on his teeth.

"You see dearest, they will never accept us," he said bitterly before turning to the matter at hand. "Guards!" Dumas shouted as he hovered over Talim, having protected her from the sharp glass with his body.

"Guards! Guards!" Matthias and Hilde both called for their soldiers to defend against the monstrous beast that just invaded the ballroom. The doors to the grand ballroom flew open and soldiers poured in. Archers instantly knocked their arrows into their bows while swordsmen drew their blades. Others took up their lances and axes to defend the people as they ran out screaming.

Talim peeked through the gap of Dumas's arms and gasped. That lizard... could it be? The beast licked the blood from its lips before its beady yellow eyes met hers. The wind around it swirled and shifted. Reading the wind, Talim couldn't tell if it was the same lizard she had fought from seventeen years ago at the Phatom Pavilion. It's physical appearance and wind was very different but there was something familiar about its reptilian yellow eyes, that sent a rather cold chill down her back.

Aeon slowly edged towards her, noting the pure aura around her and he growled. He snapped his jaws at her threateningly and hissed angrily, remembering how he had fallen at her companion's hands at the Phantom Pavilion.

"Get back!" Dumas snapped at it, pulling Talim away with her slowly.

By now, Talim had frozen up in Dumas's arms. Even if it might not be the same lizard, the guilt from all those years ago resurfaced inside her and she knew that she must help him. As soldiers surrounded the beasts, she shouted, "Don't hurt it!" She quickly pushed away from Dumas and ran towards the lizard before holding out her arms and standing in front of it protectively. "Please! He's not in his right mind right now! You're only angering and frightening him even more!"

"Dumas! Get your damn woman out of the way before we shoot her!" shouted the archduke, along with the rest of his soldiers.

Dumas glared at them. "I will personally rip out the heart of the first man to try that."

"She's going to get us all killed!" cried a frightened soldier, his hands trembling and shaking as he and his fellow comrades pointed their swords towards the beast and Talim. "You can't let the fate of one woman jeopardize us all, my lord-"

Dumas snapped. He picked up a fallen silver goblet and slammed it into the soldier's face, efficiently breaking his nose and sending him to the ground. Tossing aside the dented goblet, he said icily to the people around him, "Anyone else?" When no one said anything, he shouted to his guards, "Then what are you doing?! Lower your weapons or I'll cut off all your hands!" His soldiers obediently followed his orders and Dumas glared at Hilde and Matthias. "This is my castle and I will handle this my way."

Hilde eyed Dumas's soldiers warily as they turned their weapons on her and Matthias. Beside her, Viola advised, "It's not wise to talk to a madman. We do not need pointless losses against him when we have other matters to concern ourselves with."

Raising up her head, Hilde waved back her elite female guards. "Stand back," she ordered reluctantly.

"You're mad! You're risking all of our safety for the sake of one woman?" Matthias stared at Dumas, flabbergasted by his decision.

"I don't need you people in my way." Dumas grabbed a bow from an archer and readied it, keeping a straight aim at the beast. "Talim, hurry and calm down that beast if you can.

With a grateful look on her face, Talim thanked him before turning to the menacing lizard."Eiza ko memora a mea honkia tow so la sevanen yeaka (Lizard, have you met me seventeen years ago?)" she asked gently.

Aeon hissed and snapped its jaws, anger evident in its eyes and stiff hands.

Talim looked at it sadly. "Sowar... Eh no comfusa an seca. Ish ka now an see fra. (If you're not, then I will still help you. But for now, please calm down. I know you're confused and scare. If you come with me, I'll protect you.)." She gave it a pleading look, hoping it would give her a chance to let her help it. Just then, she noted the dull aura leaking out from a wound on its thigh. Reading the wind, she gasped softly, "You were cut by a Soul Edge shard." She reached out for it but she had to withdraw her hand as it snapped at her. Trying to reassure it, she continued to soothe it with the words of the wind as she gently touched the wound and examined it.

The lizard seemed reluctant to trust her, anger was still evident in its eyes. But the relief she brought as she purified its injury made it still and calm down slightly. But from the shadows, Duke Corby's eyes glinted with malicious intent and he stepped forward. "That beast killed Lady Souan! She was one of my dearest friend!" He took out a pistol and fired at the lizard. "Die you evil monster!"

Aeon roared in pain as the shot buried a bullet into its back. He slammed his large tail into the wind priestess and sent her tumbling away before flying into a rage and charged at the nearest soldier. It then roared and flew back at the priestess.

"Talim, get back!" Dumas shouted.

"Talim! Get away from it!" Hilde added loudly.

Talim cried out as an axe sliced at her shoulder but she managed to get her footing in time and hold the lizard back. "Keno! Osa dokani! Ish dea nona theos! (No! Calm down! It doesn't need to be like this!)." But the beast didn't listen to her and it bit into her shoulder, pulling at the tender flesh with its sharp fangs. Letting out a shrill scream, Talim fell to the floor and clutched at her torn shoulder.

At her pain, Dumas seethed with rage and he fired an arrow at its injured back, causing it to drop Talim and step away. "Archers!" Dumas commanded as he pointed. "Kill it!" To Hilde, he said swiftly, "Take Talim and get out of harm's way."

Talim could hear what he said and she rolled out of the way to avoid the arrows path. The lizard batted the projectiles aside before running over to the second window and smashing its way out. From the sounds of it, it flew to another part of the castle and broke in with another sound of crashing glass.

"Talim!" The Wolfkrone princess did not hesitate to run over and help her friend up. At the messy and bloody wound on the priestess's shoulder, Hilde ordered, "Talim, stay with me. Keep your knees straight and take in deep breaths. We're getting you first aid."

"Hil... Hilde." Talim gritted her teeth at the searing pain that flared from her shoulder. "We need to stop it. I don't want to see anymore people get hurt." Just then, they could hear more screams from outside the ballroom and Talim said fearfully, "What's happening?" The air was cold and heavy; reading the wind, Talim gasped. "There are more dangers that now wanders the castle."

"We'll get them to evacuate." Hilde went to Dumas and Matthias who was issuing orders and arguing with each other. In a loud voice, she said, "Talim said there are more dangerous creatures that we have to deal with." Her eyes were cold as she looked at Dumas. "You should make the announcement to tell the people to leave for their safety."

"I don't need you to tell me what to do," he stated flatly before taking Talim from Hilde. "Come, I'll get you bandaged up."

"N-no." Talim shook her head and grimaced. "You need to be with your soldier. That lizard isn't the last one you'll need to fight. Four more creatures wanders the corridors of your castle and the guests you invited must be evacuated. I'll go find them and try to calm them down with my powers."

"You're bleeding," he hissed as he pointed to her ripped and torn shoulder. "The muscles are already badly torn, you'll hurt yourself even more if you even attempt to fight."

"I shall accompany her." Viola stepped forth and said shortly, "The future is mine to read. She will be safe with me."

Before Dumas could object, Talim pulled on his arm and said, "Please, be a true king and put me to the side. You must worry for your people and take responsibility, Dumas." She then gave him a soft smile. "Besides, I'm stronger than I look. This wound is not that serious."

His grip on her waist tightened before he gave in. Pressing his forehead against hers, he whispered, "Then here's an order from this king... don't let anything happen to you Talim." He bent down and kissed her, a short press of the lips and squeeze of her waist that made her eyes widen and her cheeks flushed. Letting go, he said to his knights, "Take the West Wing. Search every room and corridor and apprehend any strange creature you see. You three, accompany me to the armory for my armor. As for you, Matthias and Hilde..." He said coldly, "Take your soldiers and get out of my castle. Protect the rest of those nobles while you leave or flee for your own lives, I don't really care. I just don't want to see you."

"I will not leave until I'm certain everyone is safely evacuated," Matthias replied heatedly. His eyes met Dumas as he added, "And you will have to answer for this. After all, you're rather incompetent to have let such beasts infiltrate your home."

Hilde didn't speak up, knowing that the lizard belonged to the Archduke and was most likely an attempt to sabotage Dumas's reputation in the first place. It was probably out of his plan that it should attack at this moment though. In a sharp voice, she reprimanded the two men. "This is no time for quarrels. We must make haste and ensure the safety of the people before we leave. You can use all the help you can get, Dumas."

Talim reached out and tugged on Dumas's arm. "Please let them assist in the evacuation while you track down the creatures. It will be faster that way."

Reluctantly giving in, Dumas said curtly, "Fine. But when you two are done, leave immediately. This is my affair and no one will interfere." Shooting the two a scathing look, he left the ballroom.

Gerhilde, with me." The princess of Wolfkrone stalked off with her elite guards, determined and unafraid while Matthias followed suit with his own soldiers.

Talim remained still for a moment before turning at the sounds of frightened cheeps and squeaks. "Alun! Buffy!" The two pets darted out from the banquet table and ran towards her, so frightened that they had forgotten how to fly. The baby bird and bat sobbed as they leaped into her arms as she bent down for them. "It's alright, calm down now." Talim shushed them and talked to them comfortingly, stroking their heads and letting them squeak incomprehensible noises at her. When the two spirit animals finally settled down, Talim set them gently down on the ground and pat their heads. "Be good you two. Stay out of sight and hide, ok? I'll be back soon."

"Cheep!" Alun leaped back into her arms and clung on to her, sending white fluffy feathers flying everywhere while Buffy bit her pants and clung on in its own unique way.

Talim scolded them. "No. Things are dangerous around here and I need to do my part in helping." She pulled away from the two and said firmly, "Listen to me. I can't concentrate if I'm worried about you two. You both need to hide or fly out of the broken window and stay safe." Her expression softened as she kissed their heads. "Now, please do as I say."

Reluctantly, Alun and Buffy watched her leave with Viola before they hugged each other and cried, unable to stop themselves as they worried for her and for Dumas.

Tearing off a few red ribbons behind her back, Talim bandaged her bleeding left shoulder. She silently screamed as the fabric touched the raw wound and pain flared up from the injured nerves. Sweat poured down her forehead and she forced herself to withstand the pain as she bit on her lips. Feeling slightly sick, Talim sucked in a lungful of air before gliding down the hallway with her elbow blades strapped to her belt, determined on helping Dumas find the other creatures that now wanders his hallways.

Viola caught up to her and did not look pleased. "You're injured. It is foolish to push yourself."

"But it is unforgivable if I were to sit still, while people need me," Talim replied simply.

The place was eerily quiet on their end. Warm light radiated from the candles on their holders, shining on the honey brown wood floor and earthly color of the walls and the gorgeous paintings Dumas had collected. Talim found it difficult to track down anything with the way the wind was stirring. Or was it simply the pain and blood from her shoulder that was impeding her reading? She came to a stop in the corridor of silent armored sentinels that stood on both side, serving as cold castle decoration. Putting out an arm, she leaned against the wall tiredly and tried to force her mind from dwelling on the pain of her shoulder.

Viola sensed her pain but did not comment, knowing quite well that Talim would push on anyway. It wasn't her way to worry about anyone other than Zwei anyway. But she couldn't help but speak up about something. "I would like to ask you a question."

Talim weakly straightened and gave the seer a weak smile. "Yes?"

"Why are you... friends with Dumas?"

"He saved me from my execution back at Odenburg," Talim explained quietly. "And he took care of me while my burns were healing. For that, I owe him my life and though he can be rather cruel to others, he is kind to his people." A sad expression crossed Talim's face. "You can sense that he and his servants and soldiers are malfested, correct?" When Viola nodded, Talim said, "He really does care for his people, which is why I admire and respect him. The malfested loves and looks up to him as a hero and I can understand why he does the things he does... like the Purge."

"So you stand with him?" Viola asked coldly.

"No." Talim said with a tone of disappointment, "Did you not hear my speech back there, Viola? I may understand his reasons but that doesn't mean I support them. I only wish that humans and malfested can co-exist in peace. If there were some way that I could heal all of them, I would. But I can't..."

"Once something is broken, it is difficult to mend," Viola said cryptically.

Talim shook her head and replied sadly, "The malfested are not broken, they've merely become more innocent and vulnerable."

Giving the priestess a sound of disbelief, Viola answered, "You have a strange way of seeing things. Those are the last two words one would associate with a malfested."

"That's because they do not understand." The wind around Talim stirred slightly as she said, "You may stand in the middle so you do not hear the calls as easily as they do. But the voices of their inner demons are a constant nightmare and a burden for the malfested and it that constantly torments them. With the world, reality is no escape either." Talim walked away and gently touched her medallion. "Ehoa... deo detay no fay." Lifting her head slightly, she looked over at a window as it began to rain. "In a world where they are feared... what can they do but hide away in the safety of darkness."

"Impudent dogs..." Raphael flicked the blood off his rapier and dusted his new outfit, which surprisingly was quite to his taste. The V-neck coat dipped down and bared his chest, outlined with decorative bat symbols and gold fabrics at the bottom of the coat. It was a beautiful red that matched with his Flambert and with all the gold bat symbols on it, he was well pleased. Of course, there was nothing better than the feeling of running your blade through the hearts of the soldiers of a man you despised. The cold and clammy dungeon was grating on his nerves and to leave this place was at the top of his list.

Insane laughter and screams rang through the hellish dungeon and Raphael's eyes flicked to the occasional bloodstains that stained the walls and stone floor. Grabbing a blue torch from its holder, he headed down the passageway, eager to be out of this place. For some reason, there weren't alot of guards around. Did something happen upstairs? He thought he heard some screams and thundering footsteps but he couldn't be sure. Just then, a hissing sound met his ears and he turned his head, a irritated expression on his face. "You again..."

Voldo crawled forward, his claws digging into the ceiling as he turned his blind eyes at Raphael. Elegantly dropping down, he held up his katars.

Raphael growled, "Guardian of the dungeon or what-not, you will get out of my way."

With a hiss, Voldo leaped down and stroke with the ferocity and unpredictability of a deadly spider. Baring his fangs, Raphael countered and slashed at his opponent.

"Tch." Dumas made a sound of annoyance as he looked around the empty corridors, his soldiers closely behind him. His armor clanged as he walked and he dragged his veiled Soul Edge. Most of the guests had fled in their fancy carriages but he could hardly care about their well-being. Then again, he was already knee deep in problems. Having more pompous nobles die while they were under his care would further damage his reputation and get him into worse trouble with the pesky senate and Rudolf wouldn't be very pleased about it either.

A strange smell wafted towards his nostril and he deftly put a hand over his mouth and nose. It was a familiar smell, one that he had become used to due to his time spent on the battlefields. A smell that reeked of death and waste. Turning a corner, he inhaled sharply at the gruesome sight. Blood splashed his wall and it pooled into puddles on his floor. The lush purple rugs were so saturated with the crimson liquid, that it oozed as he stepped on it. Raising up his sword, he asked thinly, "Who are you?"

The snake-like woman kept her back turned to him. Her vivid green tail twitched slightly while her clawed hands kept their hold onto the neck of a frightened noble. Blood decorated her tanned skin and dried in her dark hair and she let out a hissing sound. "Where'ssss... my children? Give them back to me..."

"What are you talking about?" Dumas asked heatedly. "What's going on? Why are did you invade my castle and attack my people?"

"WHERE ARE MY CHILDREN?! ANSWER ME!" The lamia screamed and deftly snapped the man's neck. Throwing the body into the wall, she spun around and cried out in fury. "I'll kill you all for taking my children!"

"Your eyes..." Dumas breathed in sharply when he saw her. Blood trails followed down from her eyes and he could tell that her eyes were just recently removed. Not only that, he could tell that she had gone out of control from her malfestation. The culprit would have to be the Soul Edge shard embedded into the front of her tail. It glowed evilly and twisted her mind, relishing in the pain of the tortured soul. Even as Nightmare, he wouldn't be able to control her since she's reached this stage. "Get into position!" he snapped at his men as he went into a defensive stance.

"Give them back! Give them back to me!" cried the lamia. Unable to cry with the loss of her eyes, she screamed and launched herself at them. Her movements were quick and her tail was heavy. She grabbed onto a soldier and her tail instantly crushed his lungs. With the final stage of the malfestation, her powers were multiplied by tenfold and she was a furious opponent to deal with.

Dumas didn't want to kill her since he wanted to know how she managed to get into his castle and who planted the Soul Edge shard on her. To his soldiers, he ordered, "Don't kill her! I need her alive!" He brought up his sword and guarded against the powerful swing of her tail as she attacked. Pushing her back, he snapped, "I may pity you my patience has been tested beyond its limits today. I will have someone answer for this disaster!"

"Statues?" Hilde warily remained behind her guards who had quickly circled her for her protection. The light from the candles of the quiet hallway revealed the lifelike and horrifying statues of frozen people. Outside, a storm was stirring and a flash of thunder illuminated the statutes, bring a cold feeling to Hilde's heart. She warily treaded around the stone statues and looked around carefully, seeing if there were anyone that needed help. A soft chuckle caught her attention and she readied her sword. "Who goes there? State your name, if you have any honor."

The chuckle lengthened and a soft voice whispered, "They look at us with fear... now they're frozen in fear!"

"Princess, stay behind us." Gerhilde and the rest of her guards surrounded her protectively. Under her butterfly shaped helmet, Gerhilde shouted, "What did you do these people!"

"They took us... rejected us... hurt us... see us as monsters. " The voice echoed in the corridor, shielded from sight by its army of frozen victims. Finally, the mysterious woman laughed. "Look into my eyes and see the monster you so fear!" Statues crashed to ground and broke into pieces as something headed their way.

From behind one of the statues, a terrified servant crawled out and shouted, "Run! She freezes people with her eyes!"

"You would betray a kin?" The woman wearing a tight red dress that was clearly too small for her, stepped out and laughed with delight when she saw Hilde and her guards close her eyes and blindly run away. "Afraid to see me, eye to eye?" She growled when the servant tried to crawl away. Stomping down her back, she said, "Humans fear us. But why should you fear a kin?"

"P-please, let me go," begged the terrified maid, squeezing her eyes shut in fright.

The woman snarled. "I will die... I know what stage I am in. But I will have vengeance for what they all did to my family." She grabbed the maid and proceeded to flung her aside, making a few more statues crumble into pieces. "Get out of my sight!" She screamed and toppled more statues away. "Everything is so broken! So broken!"

"What..." Matthias stumbled back and looked at the white hair woman in the small, tight dress that went to her knees. He recognized her as one of the malfested child he had brought, since he noticed the familiar scar on her right hand. Thunder cackled and lightning flashed outside the window of the large music room that held many of Dumas's treasured instruments. But right now, broken bits of metal and discarded musical treasure laid on the bloody floor. Matthias stayed behind his guards and asked quietly, "What happened to you?"

A bitter smile marred the woman's face. "I've grown up, thanks to you." She took a step closer to him and snarled, "You've brought us here... this is all your fault... if you didn't, we wouldn't have been turned."

"Pity," he replied coldly. "I had wanted to spare you and your sisters, since you were all still children. But it looks like you're all really just monsters, no matter the age."

Her pale face illuminated with rage. "Then let me show you what a true monster sounds like! It is the voice of damnation that will ferry you to hell!" Raising her head, she let out a powerful wailing screech that immediately deafened his soldiers and cracked the window's glass.

"Now now... fighting is-" Dampierre screamed and ducked out of the way before grabbing onto Gisele's hand and running down the corridor. Alphard and Ludovigo were close behind him and the group tried to escape the raging red haired woman.

"I will drain you humans dry! Everything shall perished!" screeched the fearsome vampire. She gagged and clutched at her throat before falling to the ground. "My throat, it burns... it hurts so much... I'm so thirsty."

"You might want to try some tea good lady!" suggested Dampierre as he escaped with his group and left the east wing of the castle.

The storm speaks of a dark night

The stars shall soon be all devoid of light