The castle air was cold, the night sky cloudy, with the moonlight barely breaking through the veil. The lack of light added to the dire situation brewing inside the woman's chest.

Seeing the mysterious Laura disappear unlike any chiropteran she had ever seen before, Saya did her best to maintain her composure.

"Saya? Are you injured?"

Hearing Hagi's stoic but obviously concerned tone snapped Saya out of her daze. "I'm fine, Hagi, thank you." Truth was, Saya wasn't sure what to make of everything so far. Up until now she thought she had seen everything that could have possibly surprised her. That was before she found herself in a strange castle in a strange land, with monsters unlike anything she had ever seen before, and now she was forced to make an improbable decision.

"Laura told us to leave lest we face the consequences...but I want to go home."

"I understand that, Saya, but Laura is up to something." Hagi turned his head slightly, his dark eyes piercing the large wooden doors of the castle entrance like daggers. "She doesn't want us interfering with what she has planned. And until we find a way back, we're stuck here."

This time Saya looked around. She didn't like the answer Hagi had given her, but she knew he was right. She also had a feeling that, in spite of their obvious differences, the various hunters that surrounded her were feeling the exact same thing.

The red headed hunter with the large wrist blades crossed her arms over her chest. "I don't care who this bitch thinks she is or who her mother says she is, I don't like being here. I'm leaving."

Instead of going back towards the castle gate, the red head walked towards the doors. They opened on their own, as if beckoning to her, the darkness unwelcoming as it was foreboding. Seeing the woman's unyielding attitude made Saya want to move as well, but her mind was filled with personal images. Her brother Kai and her nieces being the most prominent, as well as images of her home in Okinawa. She really wanted to see all of it once again...

"Hagi. I want to go home to my family."

The man who was both protector and lover to Saya, nodded once. "And I will see to it that you get there."

Her will was strengthened by his words. He would follow her to the ends of the earth and back if she willed it.

With a short exhale and a light smile, Saya steeled herself and walked towards the doors. Her decision had been made. To hell with what Laura and her mother had planned, she was going home again.

It was only a question of how tough the journey would be before she reached that goal.

Though it was Dracula's castle, Carmilla and her daughters had made themselves at home relatively quickly. There were four tall towers int he castle, each one made for guests. While one was the clock tower, another housed a torture chamber, the last two held Laura and her other sister.

Sitting in front of her golden vanity, wearing a purple dress reminiscent of 19th century Europe, a young looking woman peered back at her reflection with empty purple eyes. Though she appeared to be a woman of sixteen, Chiya was actually about thirty in human years. Unlike most vampires her physical appearance peaked when she turned sixteen. That was odd because most vampires would peak by twenty. That didn't bother her nor her mother for that matter, and she was proud to be a jewel in her eye. Her own eyes, which were lavender and bright, also made her stand out. Though she looked little like her parent, Chiya being Japanese while Carmilla and Laura were distinctly Eastern European, it mattered little. Everyone who met her knew who she was and they feared her.

Respect meant nothing to Chiya. The idea of people cowering in her presence was enough to make her smile like a devil.

A draft came in from her open balcony door, and not even turning her eyes Chiya felt a very familiar presence as her sister's form manifested from mist as soon as she was clear of the balcony.

Laura raised her arms above her head and stretched. "Well, that was certainly something..." the older sister saw her sister's reflection but not her own. Another oddity that Chiya had was actually having a reflection. Not that Laura was jealous of that and didn't care. "Chiya? How long do you plan to stare at yourself in the mirror?"

Chiya's lips curved into a smile that would have sent the devil himself into a frenzy. "You look worse for wear, sister."

Ignoring the fact that her question went unanswered, Laura cleared her throat and straightened her posture to be more lady like. "I just went to say hello to the intruders at the castle gate. Foolish hunters who seek to kill mother for whatever reasons they have."

Grabbing a brush from atop her vanity Chiya calmly brushed her hair. Like her sister her hair was black as ebony but much shorter in length, reaching only the base of her neck. The strands also framed the sides of her face elegantly. "I thought I heard a commotion outside."

"Then why didn't you come and see?"

"I felt your presence, and if you couldn't handle it then I would have stepped in."

The older sister huffed, annoyed at her younger sibling. "They put up a surprising amount of resistance. Though I put enough fear into them to reconsider, they might end up going into the castle. The ritual might become endangered. I'll have to speak with mother and get her to make the castle go crazy to help impede them."

As Laura turned she seemed to remember something more and turned back to her sister. "Oh, and there is one other thing."

Chiya didn't respond, instead she put on her black and purple leather choker around her slender neck.

"There was a hunter down there that looked...exactly like you."

"Really?"

"Almost a splitting image of you, to be honest. Especially the face."

Though she kept her thoughts to herself Chiya merely smiled. "I see..." Then she got up from her seat and walked over to her large feather bed made of fine silk and cashmere, all colored dark purple. On top of her bed was a Japanese sword called a katanna in a blood red sheath. It had bestowed to her by her father, a vampire of high caliber and ties to the feudal era of his land. He had disappeared soon after Chiya had been born, and Carmilla had been unable to track him down. The next time they had heard from him had been on Chiya's fifteenth birthday, and he had sent her a package containing the sword. With it had been a note saying that it would honor him if she were to carry it with her everywhere, as he had used it to slay hunters back when he was younger. Out of respect she did so even to this day. She had used it a few times and had mastered its use in the five years she had been given it.

Chiya picked up the blade and held it by the sheath in her left hand before walking towards the main door.

"Where are you going?" Laura's question was heard and Chiya peered back over her shoulder.

"I'm going to see mother. I know she wouldn't like me to go outside without permission so I am going to ask for it."

"The Castle is already reacting to us being here, just finding her might be a bit of trouble. I suppose I can come with you, make sure you get to her."

Chiya only nodded. Not that she needed her sister's help, but more like if she refused her services she'd be lectured about her lack of respect. As she approached the door she stopped just short of it and looked towards the shadows in a corner of her room. "Would you mind doing a favor for me, sir?"

Out of the shadow stepped a tall figure in all black metal armor stepped forward. No one knew how long he had been standing there waiting, but considering how Laura was taken by surprise when he made his presence known it had been a long time.

"I forget you have him around."

Chiya approached the man in the armor, her Black Knight. "He does what I ask without question. Why else would I keep a man around?"

Laura shook her head, "I can think of many…"

A thick broadsword was strapped on the knight's back. His entire body was covered in the armor, even his face save for two slits for the eyes. "You requested me, mistress?" His voice was gravelly.

He was at least two feet taller than the woman he was serving when he was standing, and even as he got down on one knee he was almost equal in height to her.

"I do. I need you to go and see about these intruders. Observe but do not engage in conversation or action with them and report back to me. I will be in my mother's chamber when you are ready to tell me."

Nodding once the knight stood up, "Yes, mistress." He then retreated into the shadows and his presence vanished.

Chiya turned to her sister, now she was truly ready to go. "Come, let us see to mother."

The first room Saya and Hagi came into was a long hallway lined with windows made of glass and covered with red curtains. The lights above were fixtures lit with candles. The place was immaculate and clean, with not an ounce of dust to be seen. That and Saya instantly noticed a smell of cherry blossoms, which she liked. It reminded her of home. Of her family and friends.

"I wonder how Kai and everyone else is doing."

Hagi spoke as he walked beside her. "He's been taking care of the children since you went to sleep, just like he promised he would."

"That's good." Saya's reply was one of relief. "I can't wait to see my nieces again."

"They started school a few weeks ago, as well. Kai's managing to keep up with all the responsibilities placed on him with their care, though he has had some outside help so he doesn't take too much of the burden."

Saya stopped next to a simple glass window and looked outside. Though she was now in a castle she could see a lush green garden outside lined with statues of goddesses and angels. Strange considering the monstrosities and hell beasts she had killed up to this point. She sighed. "I suppose that means Joel and the others have been helping him?"

"Joel gives him funds when he needs it, while David is there for support as expected...when his other duties let him, that is."

Hearing that name made Saya's heart skip a beat. "That's right! Miss Julia was pregnant with David's child before I went to sleep. How'd that go?"

Hagi smiled lightly hearing the excitement in Saya's voice. "They have a little boy. They named him George."

The importance of that name was not lost on Saya. It couldn't have bene a coincidence. "Named after Dad, huh. That's good." Saya raised her sword to her shoulders, the bright red gem sparkled in the light of the torches nearby. Though it looked like a simple piece of jewelry at first glance, to Saya it was more sentimental. The gem was actually all that was left of her 'father' George. Though not related in biological terms, Saya had been raised in George's care after the Vietnam War. Eventually he had forcibly transformed into a monster and Saya had been forced to kill him, though he welcomed his own demise for the sake of his children. Upon death his body had crystalized and shattered, but this piece, embedded into the hilt of Saya's sword, was all she had left of him. A constant reminder of what she had lost, but also of what she had left to live for.

"Hagi, I know that I was supposed to be asleep for a while, but to be honest I feel refreshed and ready to live my life now. Especially when so much is waiting for me back in Okinawa." She turned to her lover, "I know I shouldn't ask, but will you help me get back home when this is all over?"

It was a question that wasn't to be taken lightly. Saya and Hagi had after all, been transported to this castle against their will. Saya had originally been in what was supposed to be a thirty year slumber but had slept for only five before being mysteriously awoken. Though she appeared to be bright and had shown no sign of slowing down, there was no telling if she would drop back into said slumber at any point. Still, Hagi had followed her to now without raising any objections.

He never would. Hagi got up close to Saya, his gaze through his half opened eyes was tender. "As your chevalier I will do what I can. Anything for you, Saya."

"Then promise me you will. Promise that you will return me to my family and friends."

"I promise." Hagi leaned in towards Saya, but before he stopped she moved on him first. Their lips met, and for a brief moment the fact they were in a strange castle was forgotten. A peaceful bliss surrounded the two.

That didn't last long. The two parted when they heard the groaning and shuffling of slow moving feet. Saya turned her head to the hall ahead of her and saw what appeared to be corpses shuffling towards her and Hagi. Dozens of them appeared, digging their way out of the floor, the stones did nothing to stop them.

"Way to ruin our moment." Saya said, almost jokingly. She drew her sword from its scabbard. "Let's find this Carmilla and go home."

Hagi flipped the coffin shield he carried from his back to his front. "After you, Saya."