A/N Okay, here it is, the last chapter of this current arc. Whew, and I originally planned for this arc to last only two chapters, and it's wound up being seven. Can't believe I've nearly doubled my chapter count just getting through this last day of the story. Thanks to everyone who's stuck with it up until now. And don't worry, after this comes the final part of the story, which won't nearly be as long as this arc. The grand finale of this story is approaching, which will lead in to the next story, Death of a Dream. Stay tuned.

And as always, I do not own either Rosario + Vampire or Castlevania. They are the licensed properties of Ikeda Akihisa and Konami respectfully.

Part I Chapter XXIII
Shadow of the Dark Lord

The sun yet barely begun to rise over the palatial abode of the Third Dark Lord, yet activity had already begun within the castle. Preparations were being made for the celebration of the seventh birthday of the royal couple's youngest child, Moka Shuzen. Servants were scurrying about the castle, hastily performing their assigned duties for the coming day.

The lord and lady stood near the entryway and acknowledged the guests that entered. On the other end of the hall, they had the second oldest give the patrons a more proper greeting, since the ancient lord seemed to have difficulty forming a smile on his ageless face. He appeared as he always had, clad in resplendent clothes that spoke of ancient times in a faraway land. He wore a black tuxedo with matching pants, without a wrinkle or crease on either article. Black leather shoes adorned his feet. Under his coat he wore a white dress shirt with frills on the edge of his sleeves, and an outdated tie around his neck. Over his form was a long black cloak that stopped just above his ankles. He absently played with one of his curly silver locks with his left hand, and his blood red eyes held a somewhat detached look. Despite that, his posture and aura were very commanding, and left no doubt about whose power ruled over the castle.

Beside him was a somewhat tall woman with long silver hair that flowed like a waterfall down past her well-rounded posterior. Her form was a seemingly perfect synergy of beauty and strength, like a statue born in the imaginations of the most gifted sculptors. She wore a regal ebony and crimson gown that was very form-fitting, so one could've seen exactly how her body was shaped. A slit ran up the right side, which exposed her long, delectable legs, which exuded sensuality as well as immense power, though not so much as to appear unattractive. Her torso was elegantly curved, with a very toned midriff that seemed unattainable by others. Her ample bosom stood out expressively under her raiment, though not to the point of being deemed shameless. The low cut of her gown revealed a generous amount of cleavage, as well as virtually all of her elegant back. She wore an inviting smile on her face, her lips colored blood red for the occasion. Her cheeks were a light shade of red, but it was indeterminable whether the lady of the castle wore makeup, or if she always wore a blush at all times. Her red eyes glowed with warmth, but there was a steely alertness about them that bespoke woe to anyone who acted improperly, and wrath to those who dared threaten her abode.

As the guests made their way inside, a certain couple soon came up to the royals. One was an elder with thick silver hair and matching beard, who wore a heavy black winter coat over his stocky form. Thick black wool pants adorned his legs and heavy leather boots on his feet. He wore an outdated tie much like Shuzen, and had a somewhat glazed expression in his blood colored eyes. Upon his head was a cylindrical fur hat with a flattened top, commonplace for his region of the world. A hammer and sickle insignia was emblazoned into the center of his hat. Beside him was a much younger woman in a lighter soft brown overcoat. She wore an elegant crimson and gold dress, with a knee high-slit up the left side. Her long silver hair was braided together, and it ran down over her shoulder to just below her modest bosom. Warm leather boots graced her small feet. The couple was flanked on each side by six imposing guards, each clad similarly to their lord and stony expressions on their rigid faces.

"Welcome, Lord Taurnov," the silver-haired woman spoke in a rich, measured and inviting voice. "It's been far too long."

The elder looked a bit startled, since his Japanese was very broken. Though he surmised she'd just greeted him, and felt it would've been rude not to respond. "[Hello, Akasha,]" he finally replied, "[nice to be out of Siberia, if only for one day. Although I have no idea why Xolor is making such a big fuss over a child that isn't even his.]"

The lady of the castle chuckled to herself, as she slowly closed her crimson irises. She paused as her husband translated for her. "Yes, the elder has his quirks, but it's nice he went to so much trouble for our dear Moka. He foresees great things for our little angel." She slowly turned her gaze towards her spouse. "You feel the same, don't you darkling?"

Lord Shuzen growled to himself. Unlike his fellow elder, he had no trouble keeping up with the conversation despite the fact that two different languages were being spoken. "I wish I never took him up on his offer," he grumbled, "do you have any idea how much this entire spectacle is going to cost?"

"Oh darkling," his wife replied with a broad grin, "don't be such a pessimist. Think of this as a challenge to our court. Those who fail to meet the challenge shall be corrected afterwards. Those who meet our expectations, and even exceed them, shall be appropriately-" She took in a deep breath, as her ample chest rose up and pushed out accordingly. "-rewarded," she concluded in a breathy voice.

Taurnov merely watched the exchange. Those his limited understanding of Japanese failed him, he couldn't miss the inflections in what Lady Shuzen had spoken, and were it not for his beard, one would've seen a bright red blush on his cheeks. "[Oh dear, you are very fortunate, comrade,]" he spoke to his fellow elder, "[never let this one go. Ever.]"

The lord of the castle was speechless for one of the few times in his centuries long life.

"Ohayo, Shuzen-sama!" the young woman spoke happily to the matriarch, which disrupted the somewhat uncomfortable silence.

The countess turned to the younger royal, and her smile broadened. "Ohayo, Ivana," the countess spoke respectfully with a slow nod of her head. "Nice to hear your Japanese has improved, darling."

"Da, I wouldn't have missed this for the world. If only Father could be sharing in my exuberance."

"[Japanese is too strange,]" the bearded royal replied nonchalantly, "[everyone should just speak Russian, it would make life so much easier. And what's with this Ohio nonsense? Why are you speaking about that backwater province of evil America?]"

The Russian princess stifled a laugh, and slapped her hand over her forehead. "[No! Ohayo, it means, 'good morning,' in Japanese.]"

"[You should just say so, then. I didn't come here to be reminded of that greedy cesspool of a nation.]"

Lady Shuzen chuckled to herself, and shook her head in bemusement. "Sergei," she remarked, "you could at least make the effort to learn, for your daughter if nothing else. She and Pfaria have been friends for the longest time." She sensually closed her eyes. "And must he bring his politics into everything," she ruefully thought to herself, "why can't he just enjoy the world as it is? Is that really asking for too much?"

"[Bah, she cheated,]" the elder grumbled in his native tongue, "[everyone knows Russians are superior. It is because of bad caramel that Ivana lost.]"

"[That's karma, Father,]" Ivana replied with an annoyed roll of her crimson eyes.

"[Whatever, I like chocolate better. Not as good as wodka, but it's not bad. Eh, Comrade Issa?]"

The ancient lord's dour expression lightened in response. "Hmm, chocolate," he spoke in a deep, droning voice, and a glazed expression on his ageless face.

The regal woman broke out into laughter at her husband's reaction. "Oh my," she spoke with an arch smile, "you just can't get enough of that delicacy, can you?" She seductively leaned towards his left arm, as she slowly reached up and placed her delicate hands on his opposite shoulder. "And I don't need to tell you my favorite delicacy," she spoke in a voice that bordered on pure lust, as she gently pressed her large chest into his arm, "do I? And you know you can always count on me to insure your needs are," she went on, as she moved in closer which placed his arm deeper into her cleavage, "satisfied."

The head of the Shuzen family tried to maintain his dour facade, but was finding it increasingly difficult under the current circumstances. "Akasha," he managed.

"Geez, Hahau-e," an annoyed woman's voice declared from the nearby stairwell, "don't you ever turn that thing off?"

Both master vampires turned and saw a tall woman leaning against the wall next to the stairs, her long slender arms, graced by delicate silvery gloves, folded under her ample chest. She was as tall as her father and possessed the same breathtaking shape as her mother. A pair of crimson high heels graced her feet. She wore a full length deep violet gown, with a knee-high slit along the right side. A think ruby-encrusted sash encircled her toned abdomen, bound just below the waist by an onyx bat-shaped clasp. The upper part of her dress ran up to her neck, while it left the shoulders bare. A silvery necklace, with a large ruby in the center, hung down to just below her esophagus. The woman possessed a soft, heart-shaped face, with light pink eye shadow and matching lips, stretched out in a wry smirk. Her shoulder length white hair was done up in a bun behind her.

"My my," Lady Shuzen mused seductively, "so nice of you to join us, Pfaria-chan."

Issa remained staunch, but inwardly sighed in relief. He knew he could've counted on his oldest daughter to keep her mother in check. Even though he also knew Pfaria mostly took after her mother, she found many of her mannerisms somewhat embarrassing, and thankfully chose not to duplicate them. Even though she also had trouble completely concealing her seemingly divine physique, she was much more reserved than her mother, which made Issa very happy, even though he couldn't admit it for it would've impinged on his air of imperiousness.

"Pfaria-chan!" Ivana happily called out, and before her father could've protested, she ran up the stairs to greet the eldest of the four sisters. They embraced each other warmly, but then their smiles turned into vicious grins, and their youki flared up as they tightened their embrace. Cracking sounds soon followed, and Ivana groaned in pain and flailed her arms out ahead. Pfaria gave her one last squeeze and then released her.

The two princesses grinned menacingly at one another, panting audibly as their youki died down. "You are still having stronger bearhug, Pfaria-chan," the Russian vampire conceded. "But come the summer, I will be crushing you and feeding your corpse to the polar bears!"

"Bring it on," the taller woman spoke in a low, challenging voice.

They embraced again, but it was a genuine display of affection, rather than a battle for supremacy.

Down on the floor, Shuzen ruefully sighed to himself. "I swear, one day they are going to crush each other's ribcages doing that."

"Now now, darkling," his loving wife chided him, "it's how they show their affection. That's how we first met, remember?"

"I still don't see how hugging bears has anything to do with finding a mate," he spoke with audible irritation.

The countess covered her mouth with her slender hand and laughed in delight. "No, darkling, a bearhug is a very powerful embrace, like one a bear would give when it pounces on their prey."

"There's still more to find a mate than that."

"Very true, darkling, but it's a start. Pfaria and Ivana are both seeking to find a worthy mate." She giggled to herself, as she leaned up beside him. "Though sometimes I wonder if they were bred too well. Look at how hard it was for us to find love."

The lord of the castle considered what his wife had spoken. He spent many centuries alone after the death of his parents, for though he was with many women, he found few that were worthy of his ring. Akasha and Veronica, his only surviving brides, were two out of hundreds that he'd courted over the ages. He wondered if he'd ever find any other of their caliber again. The thought of it made him tighten his arm around his wife's shoulders, who cooed in delight as she snuggled closer to him.

The ancient vampire looked up to the stairs. "Pfaria," he called out, "where is Moka?"

The taller woman gestured behind her, where stood a young girl who'd just turned seven that day. She wore a full-length regal ebony dress, with thin shoulder straps held together by ruby clasps. A black and red bow, tied at the back was wrapped around her small waist. Around her shoulders was a half-cloak of the finest ebony silk, with a small collar at the top. Her long silver hair flowed down to the middle of her back, and her bangs were held back by a golden tiara, crafted into the shape of a bat, with red jewels for eyes and black jewels that filled the wings. Long silvery gloves that went to her elbows graced her slender arms, which were folded under her cloak. Her head was slightly bowed, and her eyes were closed.

"Ah, there you are," Lady Shuzen spoke warmly, "no need to be shy, come and join us, Moka-chan."

The princess finally opened her eyes, and looked up at her older sister, who gave her an affectionate smile. Encouraged, the second-youngest Shuzen made her way downstairs, followed by Pfaria and Ivana. The younger girl's eyes were somewhat suspicious and guarded, as she'd never seen so many people in her entire life. Once she got close enough, she watched as her mother slowly knelt down, gently placed her hands on her sides, and effortlessly raised her into the air.

"Ah, Moka-chan," the matriarch continued, "look, all these people came for you. Don't you feel special?"

"I suppose," the silver-haired girl replied, a tad of apprehension in her voice. "Hahau-e, do we know all these people?"

Her mother chuckled at that. "Not personally," she responded sweetly, "not yet anyway. It seems you've already attained a celebrity status in your short life. You should be proud, darling."

The princess pouted in response. "I never asked to be a celebrity," she replied with a somewhat sullen tone. "Must they gawk at me like that, it's embarrassing." Her pout turned into a dark scowl. "There better not be anyone clingy like Kokoa, or else."

Her mother covered her mouth and chortled merrily to herself. As she thought about her absent stepchild, she took the time to examine her daughter's dress. "Very nice, I must admit. What made you choose this one?"

"That's simple," Young Moka replied as her expression immediately brightened, "Aneue designed it for me."

"Oh, she did now," Lady Shuzen remarked as she slowly turned her head towards her older daughter. "I hadn't expected that of you, my dear. It's so good to see you thinking about your little sister so earnestly." She slowly knelt down and placed Moka on her feet. She then walked towards her daughter, gently placed her hand on her shoulder and leaned close. "You're much too kind."

Pfaria couldn't help but tremble at her mother's closeness. Though her ruby eyes radiated affectionately, they also seemed to peer deeply into the oldest sister's mind. "Thank you, Hahau-e," the younger woman spoke nervously, "I definitely tried."

The matriarch hummed in acknowledgment, then her sensuous smile faded. "What's wrong, darling," she asked in concern.

The oldest princess looked away with a mournful sigh. "It... didn't go as well as I planned."

Moka pouted and lowered her head.

"Trouble with your father again," Akasha asked.

The youngest daughter of Akasha Bloodriver Shuzen was stunned that her mother had made such an accurate guess, while Pfaria mutely nodded.

The lady of the castle lightly shushed her and placed her fingertips to her daughter's lips. "You don't need to say anything now," she spoke in a soft, quiet voice. "But after this is over, please tell me. You know you don't need to keep secrets from me, precious. I'll always be here for you."

The younger woman smiled in response, as a light blush crossed her features. "Thank you, Hahau-e," she replied gratefully.

Suddenly, a strange clicking sound was heard, coupled with a series of white flashes. "Oh my," an aged voice spoke from the entryway, a light accent to his otherwise refined Japanese, "such a touching moment of family togetherness. I must capture it for posterity."

The lord of the castle turned in chagrin, and saw a bald-headed royal before him, clad in a thick black tuxedo that possessed the durability of armor. He wore a neat crimson bowtie around his neck, and a matching cumberbun. Ebony slacks and shoes graced his thin legs and feet. His face even more pale than the usual vampire, though no one paid it any heed. What they did notice was a camera in his hand, and twelve of his own personal guard at his side.

"Xolor!" Shuzen shouted as he stormed over towards the newcomer, grabbed his camera, and before any of the bodyguards could've interfered, crushed it with his bare hands. His youki flared menacingly at the bald man, and his seething red eyes never left him. One of the castle servants came up beside the elder vampire, who placed the ruined instrument in his possession, and never looked away as the servant quickly excused themselves. "No technology in the castle!"

"I say," the newcomer protested, "was that really necessary? We're both council members, you know."

"This is my realm," the ancient lord retorted imperiously, "and I will not have it defiled by filth born from the execrable womb of humanity. There is no place in our world for such sickening trash."

Lady Shuzen shot a knowing glance at her children, who winced under her mother's scrutinizing gaze. She closed her eyes, smiled warmly, and lightly shook her head. She had a fairly good idea of what happened earlier in the year, when another incident that involved her children and their father occurred.

Xolor furrowed his brows as he regarded the lord of the castle. "So you're still sore about that, are you," he asked.

"Not another word," the elder spoke coldly, as he turned his back to the hairless vampire. "Let us go, before I get any more annoyed."

The silver-haired matriarch sauntered over towards him, and took hold of his arm. "As you wish, my lord," she spoke in a smooth, silky voice, then looked back to her kin. "Come children, we have a celebration to attend."

Pfaria winced visibly and stood near her mother as she headed down the hall. Moka folded her arms and walked beside her older sister. Both knew of the conflict between their father and stepmother, though neither brought it up. The younger girl was about to ask her mother about Kokoa, who was strangely absent. However, she knew the tone her mother used indicated there would've been no further discussion. Moka knew that though the lady of the castle wasn't nearly as temperamental as her spouse, her intensely piercing gaze demonstrated she would've tolerated no nonsense within her abode. The second-youngest of the Shuzen household merely followed along behind her parents.

"Hello," Kahlua spoke warmly to another guest as they passed through the entrance hall, "welcome to Castle Shuzen, we hope you enjoy your stay." She repeated the process for twenty more guests before she finally got a break, and wiped her forehead with her glowed hand. She witnessed a good part of the commotion earlier, and decided against asking for specifics later.

"Whew," she thought to herself, "this certainly is a lot of work, I don't know a tenth of these people. How did Chichiu-e and Obaasan convince them all to come? I doubt even quarter of them know Moka-chan, let alone met her."

As she pondered the issue, she saw another group of guests approaching the main gate. "I certainly hope Hahau-e and Kokoa-chan hurry up. If Chichiu-e finds out about her workshop, he's gonna blow his stack. Probably blow up the castle, too." A bluish haze appeared on her forehead as she contemplated the possibility. "And please, I hope Hahau-e at least tries to dress for the occasion. If anyone here sees her in that rumpled old lab coat-"

She shook her head, mortified at the mental image she saw. It was then that she felt a powerful presence nearby. She looked beside her, and saw the exquisite yet imposing form of her stepmother, barely a foot from her position. "Shuzen-sama," the tanned woman spoke nervously, trembling as she bowed to the matriarch.

"Kahlua," the elder vampire began in a cool voice, "where is your mother?"

Kahlua tried hard to stop shaking under her stepmother's gaze, and hoped she hadn't read her mind earlier. "I, haven't seen her all day," she hastily replied, which was essentially true.

Lady Shuzen looked at her for several tense moments, her expression seemingly unreadable. The younger woman squirmed as the matriarch's intense gaze bored into her entire being. The tension was broken when the countess slowly closed her eyes and smirked to herself. "When you do," she finally spoke, "have her join us. She's missing out on all the fun."

The younger woman cringed in response. She knew of the intense rivalry between her mother and stepmother, and surmised the lady of the castle would've preferred if her rival had taken a very long walk off a short pier. However, she was grateful the older woman had refrained from bringing up the subject. "I will," Kahlua spoke nervously, "Shuzen-sama."

"Now now," the elder woman chided lightly, "you can call me 'obaasan.' We're supposed to be a family, remember?"

The second-eldest princess groaned to herself. "Yes, obaasan."

Akasha gave her a broad smile. "Much better," she spoke pleasantly, "come join us once all the guests have arrived." She then headed past her to rejoin her family who'd already gone ahead.

Kahlua groaned wearily as her stepmother's presence left her vicinity. Though not entirely menacing, the lady of the castle always made her oldest stepchild uneasy. "Please, Hahau-e, don't do anything foolish," she said to herself, aghast at the thought of any mishaps occurring during the festivities. It was then that she noticed she was being watched. She looked up, and saw the next group of guests staring at her. "Oh dear, forgive me!" she spoke up with an embarrassed smile as her eyes shut tightly, "all this stress is going to give me wrinkles. Anyway, welcome to Castle Shuzen, hope you enjoy your stay."

The newcomers chuckled at her self-mockery, responded kindly and went on their way.

The event was soon moved to one of the huge banquet halls, where a colossal table was set up. In the middle of the table was a gigantic birthday cake, coated liberally with dark chocolate frosting, with several bat designs comprised of red frosting scattered about it entirety. The words, "Happy Seventh Birthday, Moka," were written upon the massive piece of pastry, and also in red frosting. Issa was shocked that his servants had actually completed the veritable herculean labor, while his wife was practically overflowing with pride and satisfaction. Pfaria gave her mother a strange look, and thought if she were any more expressive, she would've burst out of her gown. Akasha slowly turned her head to her older daughter, and gave her an arch grin, as she slightly closed her crimson irises. The oldest sister winced in response, embarrassed that her mother had read her thoughts, as her cheeks became flushed. She foresaw a lecture afterwards, followed by intensive training.

"Are you alright, Neesan," a cheerful woman's voice asked, "your face is as red as your eyes."

The tall woman folded her arms and looked away, as she needed to confirmation of the speaker's identity. "I'm fine, Kahlua," she grumbled.

The younger sister laughed lightly behind her. "I know, she makes me nervous, too. But were it anyone else, would you be the person you are now?"

Pfaria lowered her gaze slightly. "I suppose not, I do owe Hahau-e a great deal, my very existence if nothing else." She sighed to herself as she looked up at the ceiling. "Though I wonder if I can ever live up to her expectations."

"Oh, stop that," Kahlua spoke with a joking laugh as she came around to face her sister. "You know self-doubt is not permitted in the castle."

"Don't start with me," the taller princess spoke with a dark gaze.

The younger woman laughed to herself, as she knew well of the conflict between her older sister and her father. "I'm not, really. Let's just forget ourselves and enjoy the festivities, shall we?"

Pfaria looked away for a moment, and saw Moka in the distance. The younger princess was trying to put on a straight face for the event, though her discontent was noticeable to the eldest sister. But when the young girl saw her sibling, she gave her a happy smile. That made the tall woman smile in return. "Yes," she finally replied, "let's do that."

The two sisters helped themselves to a piece of the large cake. As Pfaria was consuming her portion, she felt a familiar aura within the great hall. She looked out of the corner of her eye, and saw a group of three vampires of lower standing. They consisted of a husband and wife, and one teenage girl. Their features indicated they were from the central European region, as did their more humble attire. Their hair lacked the vibrancy of the royals, and their eyes were a lighter reddish color. The wife gave Pfaria and exceptionally sour look, which was promptly returned. The princess' eyes never left the newcomers, as her right hand clenched into a fist. The very sight of her incensed the tall woman to no end, as she recalled what transpired upon their last meeting.

"Do you know them, precious," a familiar voice spoke behind her.

Pfaria groaned to herself as she felt the presence of her mother beside her. "I respectfully decline comment," she replied, trying to keep her face under control.

"You've been doing that a lot lately," the matriarch noted. "Though I appreciate you for not disrupting the ceremony with any ill will, I don't appreciate being left in the dark over anything that hurts my children."

The oldest princess' eyebrows shot up in response. "Who said I was hurting," she asked nonchalantly.

Akasha merely chuckled. "Pfaria," she spoke in a chiding tone, "you should know better than to keep secrets from me. I carried you in my body, I know when you're in pain, darling."

The taller woman sighed in resignation, as she was reluctant to relay what she felt her mother had inquired about. Suddenly, she felt a strong yet gentle touch on her shoulder. She looked beside her, and saw her mother's gloved hand upon her. "Come with me, Pfaria," she spoke in a milder voice, "there's something I'd like to discuss with you."

The princess looked startled, for she hadn't heard such a gentle voice from the matriarch in recent memory. Instead of her usual sensuous yet stern tone, it sounded more like the genuine request of an affectionate mother. Even her aura was softer as it enveloped the two of them, and Pfaria felt more secure than she had in a long time. "Yes, Hahau-e," she replied with a warm smile.

Moka watched as her mother and older sister headed outside the hall. She looked up to her father, who sternly kept watch over his child. "Chichiu-e," she asked, "where are Hahau-e and Aneue going?"

"They're not going far," the lord of the castle replied, "not today, anyway. They will return in time."

The young vampire looked unconvinced. "I don't know, Aneue looked pretty upset. Is anything wrong?"

The elder vampire said nothing, his face an impenetrable mask of stalwart imperiousness.

"Are you mad at them, Chichiu-e," Young Moka asked her father.

"There's no need to concern yourself, you should just enjoy the party, there shan't be another of this magnitude."

The princess looked at him for several seconds, folded her arms and smiled. "Good, I hate crowds."

Lord Shuzen looked surprised at her response, and almost laughed out loud, but he caught himself. He quickly regained his composure, and gave her a solemn nod. "Very well," he mused, "I can honor that."

Moka smirked to herself. Though she wished her father would've at least smiled, she saw it as an improvement over his usually dour demeanor. "Thank you, Chichiu-e," she spoke gratefully, "I appreciate it." She looked about the hall, and though there were countless people she didn't recognize, she was perceptive enough to notice one particular absence in the room. "Chichiu-e," she asked in a more concerned tone, "where's Kokoa?"

The lord of the castle scowled as he played with one of his bangs. As he surveyed the hall, he also failed to locate his youngest daughter, as well as her mother. "I might have to send for their retrieval," he noted.

The young girl scowled as well, her expression similar to the one worn by her father. She wasn't amused by the absence of her younger sister, not to mention her increasingly eccentric stepmother. She began to wonder if Kokoa's mother had managed to create a laboratory, which her father had expressly forbade on many occasions. She planned to punish Kokoa during their next duel for her absence, and hoped her father had something similar planned for her stepmother, especially if she disrupted the festivities. Not that she would've minded the change of pace, but it would've caused so much embarrassment, more than she could've tolerated at the moment.

The event was soon moved to the reception hall, where all the presents were gathered together. Moka was quite relieved when her mother and oldest sister returned. By their expressions, they looked much happier than they did before they excused themselves. The younger sister wondered what happened, and planned to ask them after the party was over.

Most of the gifts compromised of various clothes and jewelry from different parts of the world where the guests came from. Moka tried to be courteous for her parent's sake, but the presents left her feeling rather underwhelmed. As she unwrapping of gifts continued, her expression finally brightened as she saw a box of rich German chocolates in her hands. "Thank you very much."

"You're welcome, Your Highness," the wife spoke courteously in her limited Japanese, "I'm glad you enjoyed our humble gift."

Pfaria tried hard not to glare at the European woman. "Oh yes," she thought to herself, "suck up to Moka after you abandoned your own son. You make me sick."

Lady Shuzen chuckled to herself. "You're too kind, Helga," she remarked with a courteous smile, and then elegantly held her arm out towards her husband. "Now now, darkling, those are for Moka. You've had enough snacks."

The entire audience broke out in laughter, for most of them knew of the lord's love for chocolates. Their merriment quickly ended when he glowered at them and flicked out his youki, which made the throng cringe in response. The only one who wasn't frightened was his wife, who ruefully shook her head as she closed her red eyes and chuckled to herself. Her smile faded slightly as she regarded her oldest daughter, who glanced nervously back when she felt her mother's eyes upon her.

The next present revealed was a long elegant evening gown which would've reached the floor at Moka's age. Her mother looked at the present, and smirked in response. "Such a beautiful piece," she mused, "it was clearly well thought out."

The younger girl was unimpressed, though she detected a hint of sarcasm in her mother's voice, which she'd recently learned, and mirrored her smirk as she examined the article. "Nice gift, Kahlua," she mused.

"How did you know," the suddenly startled princess asked.

"Who do you think you're fooling, you get me dresses every year."

Kahlua coughed in response, a bit embarrassed that her sister had spoken it in front of so many people. She winced as she heard more than a few snickers from the crowd. Finally, she simply smiled in chagrin, as a sweatdrop ran down the side of her head. "Sorry, I couldn't help it. A girl can't have enough clothes."

The younger girl frowned at that, annoyed at receiving yet another dress. As she looked amongst the pile, she saw one particular present, which had a small rectangular object, and wrapped in night black paper with bat designs, each framed with a crimson outline. She headed over towards it, and took it in her hands.

"Moka, what are you doing," her father asked in an unamused tone, "the servants can fetch them, that's their job."

"Sorry, Chichiu-e," the princess spoke with an embarrassed smile.

"What made you choose that one," Akasha asked her daughter with an intrigued smile, "do you know what it is?"

"No," the silver-haired girl spoke, as her expression grew uncertain, "I just felt it, calling out to me."

The matriarch folded her arms under her ample chest and smiled in bemusement. "Did it now," she mused. "Well then, come back and share it with the rest of us."

Moka quickly returned to her parents' side. Eagerly, she removed the wrapping paper, which revealed a hardcover book. She smiled as she hugged it against her chest, as many of the guests looked strangely at her, but then laughed lightly.

"Oh my," Lady Shuzen remarked with an intrigued smile as she saw the exposed present, "which one of you decided to get her a novel?"

"Wasn't me," Pfaria replied with a shrug of her shoulders.

"Hmm, I know it wasn't me," Kahlua interjected, as she tilted her head to the side and placed her fingertip under her chin. "I doubt it was Kokoa, doesn't seem like her."

"Well whoever got it," Moka spoke up, "I thank you very much," she concluded with a broad grin.

The vampire matriarch walked almost in a gliding manner, and stopped behind her youngest daughter's right shoulder. As she saw the title, she smirked in amusement. "Interesting choice," she noted. She glanced at her husband, who seemed quite disinterested as he looked off towards a corner of the hall. She wondered if he was still pouting over the chocolate incident, but said nothing.

The silver-haired girl looked back to her. "This is English, isn't it, Hahau-e," she asked expectantly, and received an intrigued nod in response. "Could I read the title?"

The countess chuckled to herself. "Go ahead, darling, I'm sure we could all use a good laugh."

Young Moka gave her a beaming smile, and then turned back to the book in her hands. "'Bram Stoker's Dracula.'"

Suddenly, bolts of lightning crashed down outside the windows, and illuminated the entire hall, as the audience gasped in shock and confusion. Lady Shuzen's breath caught in her throat, as she felt a youki far more malignant than anything she'd experienced in her centuries-long life. Kahlua brought her trembling hands near her open mouth, as her red eyes went wide in horror. Pfaria looked to her in disbelief, then to Moka and her mother. Lord Taurnov's face blazed his anger, as he crushed his goblet in his hand without realizing it. Ivana gasped in shock, and clung to her father's side. Lord Xolor backed away in mute shock, and then spun towards the far wall. Moka looked to the book in sheer horror, and felt a menacing aura beside her. She turned, and saw the towering form of her father looming over, his face a mask of sheer hatred as his spectral blue aura blazed around him. As Moka backed away, she felt a far more sinister presence in the room. She looked towards the far wall, and saw a gigantic shadow, illuminated by the flashes of lightning. It was the shadow of a massive cloaked being, twenty feet high and with blazing red eyes, which seemed to glow with the fires of Hell itself. The twin orbs locked onto Moka, as a satanic laugh resounded throughout the hall. After several more intense flashes of lightning, the phenomenon died down, and everyone looked to one another, muttering in confusion. The princess looked about in shock, unable to understand what had just occurred. She blankly looked down at the book in her hands, and then dropped it as she backed away in fright. She looked behind her, and saw the look of fear and disbelief on her mother's face.

"Moka," the regal woman asked in a quiet, yet clearly frightened voice, "what have you done?"

"[Seize her!]" Taurnov's voice called out from the crowd.

Akasha looked, and saw several of the Russian elder's guards were headed towards Moka. She immediately moved in to intercept them. She glared intently at them, and flicked out her youki. The advancing soldiers quickly froze in their tracks. Her gaze then turned to the bearded man in the front of the crowd. "What do you think you're doing," she demanded.

"[She has spoken the name of the Devil!]" the elder announced. "[She is a traitor to all vampires! All who speak his name will die!]"

The matriarch glared at her accuser in exasperation, as her daughter cowered behind her. "She read the title of a book," she countered, trying to remain civil under the circumstances, "and you would dare call for her death?"

"[This is no longer your concern!]" the bearded royal retorted. "[This is a Council matter now! Our laws are absolute, and all who break the law die! No exceptions!]"

"[Father, you can't!]" Ivana shouted desperately as he reached out towards him. "[This is wrong!]"

"[SILENCE!]" the elder roared as he instinctively lashed out with a massive backhanded blow, which knocked his child down the hall, and bowled over more than a few guests and some of the servants, as the others watched in fright, and muttered in confusion. His rage seemed to grow as he saw what had occurred. He then turned his seething gaze towards Moka, as his eyes blazed with intense hatred. "[Do you see now what you have done, child,]" he growled menacingly, "[you have cast open the gates of Hell itself with your folly! Are you trying to call him back? DO YOU DESIRE HIS RESURRECTION?]"

"Put a sock in it, old man!" Pfaria shot back. "Don't you dare blame Moka for your lack of self-control!"

"ENOUGH!" Akasha roared as an immense crimson aura blazed about her imposing form. She looked back towards her children, who trembled under their mother's infuriated gaze. "Pfaria," she spoke in a calm yet clearly commanding voice, "I will handle this. Protect your sister, no matter what."

The oldest princess cringed in response, as she knew her mother's tone indicated there would've been no room for argument. "Yes, Hahau-e," she succinctly replied.

"Yes, Hahau-e," Moka added as she tightly clung to her sister. She cringed as she remembered the brooding gaze of Lord Taurnov. Never before had she felt such overwhelming fear, and was clearly unprepared for it. Though she didn't understand a word of Russian, the seething hatred she felt directed at her was unmistakable, and made her tremble uncontrollably.

"Lady Shuzen," the bald-headed elder called out, "we mean no disrespect. But a cardinal law has been broken, you must realize we cannot ignore that."

"[Silence, Xolor!]" the Russian elder snapped at him. "[We don't need to explain ourselves, we are the Elder Council, the rulers over all vampires! We COMMAND obedience!]" he shouted, as a dark violet aura surrounded him, which made most of the guests back away in terror. Some of the lower nobles were actually blown down the hall as the elder released his youki.

"Stop right there, Taurnov!" the lady of the castle declared. "Regardless of your status, this is still my castle! You will not kill anyone under my watch, especially not my daughter!"

Suddenly, an even more powerful aura erupted behind her, which dwarfed hers by comparison. The sheer oppressiveness of the youki bore down on her, as it slowly forced her down towards a kneeling position. She looked behind her, and saw the enraged form of her spouse, bathed in a monstrous cyan aura. Nearby she saw Moka, Pfaria, and Kahlua all on their hands and knees, forced onto the floor by their father's colossal aura. "Issa," the silver-haired woman yelled at her spouse, "what are you doing?"

"The word of the Council is law!" Lord Shuzen announced to her and everyone in the room. "You will not interfere with their judgment! The punishment for defiance is death!"

"Chichiu-e, no!" Kahlua called out in sheer desperation.

"Silence!" the elder snapped, as he spun around towards her, his arm flailing out to the side. Once he did, his second-eldest daughter was flung back into the far wall, and punched a huge dent within it. The stricken princess fell limply down to the floor in a broken heap.

"NEESAN!" Moka called out as she watched in horror at what had become of her sister.

"You bastard!" Pfaria declared as her lavender aura flared up, its intensity expressing her rage as she began to rise from the floor, despite her father's oppressive youki.

The elder immediately turned in her direction, concentrated his demonic energy, and released a huge beam of cyan energy from both hands, which sent Pfaria flying back through the wall behind her, and punched a huge hole that ran all the way up to the ceiling.

"ANEUE!" the horrified girl screamed in terror and despair.

Lady Shuzen was appalled at what she'd witnessed. Were she not so overwhelmed with grief, she would've been glad Kokoa was absent from the carnage that unfolded before her. "Issa, stop!" she called out.

The enraged elder turned to her. "Do not interfere!" he commanded, as his aura blazed with renewed vigor and forced his wife back onto her knees. "Learn this lesson well, Akasha!" he proclaimed. "The rest of you also take heed!" he added to the crowd gathered before him. "I am the lord of this castle! My will within these walls is absolute! NO ONE challenges me!" He waved his arm out to the side, and his wife's body became as a shape of crimson energy and then vanished.

"HAHAU-E!" Moka shrieked in unimaginable horror.

The brooding man turned towards his remaining child. "This is all your doing," he growled in a vicious, rasping voice. "How dare you make a mockery of your family!" he shouted as he stormed over towards her, grabbed her throat and lifted her into the air. "How dare you make a mockery of me!" He tightened his grip on his daughter's neck. "And above all, HOW DARE YOU SPEAK THAT NAME!"

The stricken girl made small, strangling noises as she clutched at her father's unyielding fingers.

The lord of the castle turned to his fellow elders. "Taurnov, Xolor, seal the exits! Let no one escape until I return! And if any of these wretches even mutters his name, KILL THEM!" He then glowed with a cyan aura and disappeared, with Moka in tow.

Tsukune and the other girls looked at Moka in shock and disbelief. Even though none of them ever truly believed the vampire had pledged herself to Dracula, as her enemies proclaimed, none of them could've imagined the catastrophe that truly ensued, and the ramifications of it. Their horror grew even worse as the vampire relayed the savage beating she'd received from her father after he locked her in the sitting room with him. Tsukune looked exceedingly vexed, as he recalled the scene from his last nightmare. The devastation he saw indicated the sheer brutality of the assault. And yet despite his seemingly limitless hate, he found himself unable to kill his daughter, though the group found it anything but consoling.

"That, that can't be," Kurumu uttered with a blank stare.

"No freakin' way," Mizore added with a matching expression.

"That's, that's just... too wrong, desu!" Yukari declared with a helpless look.

"After that day," Moka continued with a despondent look, "Chichiu-e decreed I'd be sealed from that point forward. He'd allow me to return to the mansion and say goodbye to Kokoa, and nothing more. Never was a word of what occurred in the castle to be spoken to anyone." She stifled a sniffle, as she closed her eyes and folded her arms under her chest. "I never saw Aneue or Neesan again, and I've never seen my mother with my own eyes."

"Wait a minute!" the cyan-haired girl interrupted. "Didn't you live with your mother in the human world? How can you say that you've-" It was then Kurumu noticed the morose look in her friend's usually intense gaze, and then it dawned on her. "Oh, I see. With your own eyes."

The white-haired woman replied with a short nod, and the incognito succubus looked away in disbelief, overwhelmed by the immense tragedy.

"But that's not fair!" the younger witch protested. "How can they do that, desu?"

"Because it's the law," Inner Moka explained tearfully as she looked to the child prodigy. "For any vampire who speaks Dracula's name, the punishment is death." She exhaled somberly as she closed her red eyes once more, though her bitter tears kept flowing regardless. "No exceptions."

"No exceptions my butt!" Kurumu blurted out. "That was a setup! Just like last night! Grr, I feel like I'm dealing with the freakin' PSC all over again!"

"Wh-what," a startled Moka asked.

"Come on! Isn't that why you were so ticked? Those old geezers made a mockery of you, your sisters, even your mother!" she declared, as she thrust down her fists in anger. "How dare those bastards toy with people's lives like that!"

"Kurumu-chan," Tsukune spoke worriedly.

"What are you saying," the vampire asked the cyan-haired girl with a mortified look, "you can't actually believe the Council planned that."

"Why not, how is any different than what happened in that tomb? Someone left that book amongst the gifts, and knew you would've been tempted to read it aloud. They were all there, and had their thugs with them to back them up. This whole thing screams setup! It's the same crap we had to fight against last year! A bunch of arrogant bastards who think they know what's best for everyone else!" Her rage gave way to sadness, as she tried to stifle a sob. The memory of the dreadful battle against the PSC still ached deep within her soul. It was then that she felt a pair of long fingered hands on her shoulders. She opened her sobbing violet eyes, and saw her classmate held her shoulders in a strong yet gentle grip, and looked to her with haunted red eyes.

"Hahau-e would've agreed with you," the white-haired woman solemnly replied. "She also abhorred how the Council ruled with impunity. She'd always encouraged and gave respect, instead of simply commanding it as Chichiu-e did." She sniffled to herself as a pained frown appeared on her face. "But after that day, she was never the same. She assumed the name Ayumu Akashiya, and turned her back on the vampire world completely. Even though I've never seen her, I can feel the bitterness in her heart. Needless to say we've never talked about the day, or anything else." She pulled the smaller girl into a strong embrace, so she wouldn't have seen her tears. "All I've ever wanted was to see Hahau-e's smile again," she spoke sadly. "Is that really asking for too much?"

"No," Tsukune spoke up as he approached her. "I can see now why you never told anyone about this. And if you want us to keep quiet about this, we will."

"You must, Tsukune," the female vampire spoke sternly, though her concern was clearly evident in her voice. "The Council must never know I'm still alive. If they ever discover Chichiu-e's ruse, they'll kill him, and the rest of my family. They'll kill everyone who ever knew of my existence." She released Kurumu, and flung her self into the human student's arms. "And they'll kill you, Tsukune!" she wailed in despair, and sobbed uncontrollably.

The four girls were thunderstruck by what they'd heard.

"That's insane!" Kurumu protested loudly. "They'll kill everyone in the school!"

"They can't do that!" Tsukune added. "Okaasan, Kyou-chan!"

"It'll be a massacre!" Yukari wailed. "We can't let then do that, desu!"

"There's nothing you can do!" Moka replied to the others, trying to sound harsh though her broken emotions hampered her voice. "The will of the Elder Council is law, their power is absolute! They answer to nobody! And if try to oppose them, they'll kill you! I can't let that happen!"

The human student sighed gravely as he regarded the grieving woman. "We know what you're trying to say, Moka-san," he spoke softly. "Senpai said the same thing about the PSC. He said they'd kill us if we opposed them. But if we did nothing, they'd still be in power. And who knows what would've become of the school. Senpai was right the other day, evil only triumphs when good people do nothing."

The female vampire tightened her grip on Tsukune, and leaned her head upon his shoulder. She sighed deeply, which pressed her chest tightly against the brown-haired youth's bare torso. The human student shuddered slightly at the contact, but then relaxed and returned her embrace.

Around that time, a pained groan came from nearby. Yukari looked, and saw the fallen PSC agent had begun to regain consciousness. "Michiru-san," she spoke up and went to her side. She was soon joined by the other girls save for Moka.

The black-clad woman groaned weakly as she opened her eyes, and saw the girls around her. "Sendo-san," she began, "what happened? Where's Goruma?"

Mizore sighed as she lowered her gaze. "He's dead," she spoke plainly, "Komiya killed him."

Michiru looked at her in disbelief, and then winced in pain as she sought to raise herself off the floor.

"Easy there, Kawasado-san," Ruby spoke in concern, "you've broken at least three ribs, you shouldn't be moving around."

The undercover agent breathed weakly as the pain of her injuries shot through her body. "I must," she maintained. "With the third king fallen, it won't be long before Kuyou himself confronts us. We must find the chairman, he's the only one who can undo what he's wrought." She groaned again as she rose to her knees. "No, what we've wrought."

"How noble," Moka's voice spoke coldly as she came before the wounded officer. "Why should I believe you," she asked as she peered down her nose at her enemy. She then looked intently at her friends. "And why have you," she demanded.

Kurumu bravely looked into the vampire's accusing crimson irises. "Because she's fought by our side ever since she found what a louse Ririko was," she offered in response. "That bimbo destroyed the clubhouse, and tried to destroy us as well. And Michiru helped us take her down, permanently."

"What?" the white-haired woman replied sharply. "You mean she's already been defeated?"

"Yeah, she's past tense."

The vampire growled in anger and aggravation. "How dare you!" she declared through clenched teeth, and then kicked the succubus across the room. The other girls were startled that Moka had lashed out so suddenly. She watched in contempt as the smaller girl slid down the damaged wall onto the floor.

"What was that for," the stricken girl asked through her pain.

"That idiot was mine to destroy!" the super monster declared. "How dare you deny me the chance to repay that harlot for dishonoring me last night!"

Mizore gulped nervously as she regarded the incensed vampire. "Sorry to disappoint you," she began warily, "but, she was trying to kill us. What else could we have done?"

Moka growled at the snow girl and shot her a vicious glare. She then turned away in a huff, her hands trembling by her sides. Even though she realized their hand was forced in the matter, she was still incensed that her opportunity for vengeance against the amoral math teacher was lost. "Why are you defending her," she asked over her shoulder. "Wasn't she the one who ambushed you and Tsukune outside the tomb?"

The purple-haired girl looked slightly surprised. "Nope," she replied with a light shake of her head, "Kuyou himself did that." As she thought about the incident in the tomb, a troubling thought came to her. "Wait a minute, I think we did see her as we escaped the burial chamber." She looked at her curiously. "How'd you know?"

Moka turned fully to the snow girl. "Because she's the one who stole my Rosario and gave it to Kuyou!"

Everyone in the room gasped in shock. They all looked to the stricken officer in disbelief, stunned at what their newfound friend had done the other night.

"Michiru," Kurumu asked as she returned to the others, "is that true?"

The PSC member groaned from her own pain and the questioning looks aimed at her. "It's true," she admitted, "and because of what we did last night, the school has all but fallen into anarchy." She winced as she held her ribs. "Kuyou has gone mad, and has subverted the school to suit his own ideals." She bowed her head shamefully. "I'm not surprised you distrust me, Akashiya-san. But will you deny me the chance to make reparations for what I've done?"

The vampire growled to herself and turned her gaze from the dark-haired woman. "Just stay out of my way," she spoke coldly.

"Moka-san," Tsukune protested mildly.

"No," came the cold, judgmental reply of the white-haired woman.

The brown-haired youth groaned in chagrin and frustration.

The wounded woman shook her head. "Don't be discouraged, Aono-san," she spoke up. "I doubt she'll be the only one unable to forgive us. But right now, we need to find the chairman."

"But where is he," Mizore asked. "He said we'd find him if we found you and Yukari. But there's no sign of him."

The young witch looked about the room, and saw a ledge above them that surprising remained intact, despite the carnage around them. As she pondered the matter, an idea came to her. "Kurumu-san, Tsukune-san," she called out, "take me up there."

The succubus looked up, and remembered the ledge they found the witch and the undercover agent lying upon when they entered the room. "Are you sure you're alright," the older girl asked worriedly.

"Trust me, Kurumu-san, I have a good feeling about this."

Tsukune looked a bit confused, but he came over to his two friends. The cyan-haired girl produced her wings, and brought the two onto the ledge. As the young man looked to the wall ahead, he felt a familiar aura from his choker, followed by a stabbing pain in the side of his neck.

"Tsukune-san!" Yukari called out worriedly. "What's wrong?"

The human student held his neck. "The Eye, it's been damaged." He winced as he tried to shake off the pain. "Dracula."

The young witch was flabbergasted by what she'd heard. "He was really here?"

"Yes, that aura in Moka-san's cell, was his."

Yukari gulped nervously, and then saw a large puncture in the choker. She felt guilty that she'd missed it earlier, and caused her friend pain. "I'm sorry, Tsukune-san."

"It's alright," he spoke with a pained smile, "really. I think this is gonna work, too. Glad you came with us, on this adventure quest, Yukari-chan."

The young witch looked somewhat embarrassed, and still somewhat ashamed, but the young man's smile made her worries depart. She watched as he reached out and touched the wall, which slid back and then up to reveal a dark hallway headed. "Yay!" she cried out gleefully. "Look everyone! Tsukune-san found a secret passage! The chairman must be down there, desu!"

Michiru looked up at the new passageway. "Unbelievable," she spoke to herself, "so that's where they hid Mikogami-sama." She growled as she clenched her fist by her side. "Kuyou, you traitor. How dare you undermine, the future the chairman has labored to create for all races." She felt a cold yet soothing touch beside her, and another by her side, and felt herself helped to her feet. She looked beside her, and saw Mizore and Ruby had come to support her. "Thank you," she spoke gratefully.

"Don't mention it," the snow girl replied with a smile. "We're all on the same side here, right?"

"We're about to find the chairman," the older witch spoke confidently, "I'm sure he won't blame you for what happened, not after you fought so hard to find him."

The injured woman gave her a wan smile. "I certainly hope so," she began. "But regardless of his verdict, I must go forward."

Mizore hummed to herself as she regarded the wounded officer. "If only more of the PSC were like you, we wouldn't have had to thrash them."

The three began to head towards the ledge, when they passed by Moka. "Don't think I'll forgive you so easily," the white-haired woman spoke coldly to Michiru. "Bare your fangs against me again, and I won't hold back."

"Do as you wish," the former PSC agent replied as she was helped towards the newfound exit.

The group made their way down the darkened hallway, which came to a supposedly dead end. Everyone looked to Tsukune, who stood in front of the wall and felt the aura of the choker once more. Despite the pain, he reached out and touched the wall, which opened up before him. Moka looked startled by what she'd witnessed, but decided against asking questions for the moment. She suspiciously looked ahead towards Michiru, who didn't return her gaze, which she found quite irritating.

The group passed through the new opening and found themselves inside a vast chamber, long abandoned for a forgotten purpose. In the center of the room, they found a huge black crystal, hovering a foot above the floor, as a series of dark archaic runes spun in a circular pattern directly under the crystal. Within the levitating prism was a familiar figure in a white robe, bound at the waist, with a cowl covering its head. A silver cross hung from the being's neck. Its only visible features were a pair of glowing eyes which looked out into the distance. Everyone gasped in shock as they recognized the figure of the Board Chairman, trapped within the rotating crystal.

"I don't believe it," Yukari remarked in a small voice. She never imagined one of the Three Dark Lords could've possibly been defeated, yet the evidence was before her.

"No way," Mizore added blanky.

"This can't be," Kurumu spoke in disbelief.

"Mikogami-sama," Michiru spoke with a blank look. "Kuyou, what have you done?"

Moka looked on with an unreadable expression, one shared by Tsukune.

Once everyone was close enough, the imprisoned figure's eyes glowed even brighter. "At last," he spoke in a clear, audible voice, yet his mouth never moved, "you have come." His eyes dimmed after he had finished speaking.

"Mikogami-sama," Ruby said in a mortifed voice, "what happened? How is it you have been sealed away?"

A deep sigh echoed throughout the room. "I was... too late," the chairman's voice spoke gravely. "As I sent... my associate... to escort the girl from the school, I... led Colton... into the Tomb of Wisdom... to discern... his true intentions. I could wait... no longer... lest all our hard work... come to ruin."

The older witch also sighed, as a single tear ran down her cheek.

"What hard work," Tsukune asked. "What were you planning? What does Moka-san have to do with any of this?" Though the figure didn't turn its head, the brown-haired youth felt its gaze upon him regardless.

"Yes, it seems.. the time has come... to reveal the truth. But... I implore you... tell no one... what you hear... in this room."

The group voiced their agreement and looked at him in anticipation.

"Before the academy... came into being," the imprisoned priest began, "I worked... in the distant land of Romania... in service... to Count Dracula."

"WHAT?" the group exclaimed in united shock.

"That can't be!" Michiru added in disbelief.

"You worked for Dracula," Tsukune asked incredulously.

"This must be a mistake, desu!" Yukari declared incredulously.

Moka simply glared at the bound man, as her long fingers twitched menacingly by her sides.

"Mikogami-sama," Ruby began with a startled expression, "is that what you meant by, 'that time?'"

"Yes," the robed figure replied. "Before that time... Dracula... took a human woman... to be his bride. She was... the only human... to gain such an honor."

"And how long did she remain that way," the white-haired woman asked with a contemptuous scowl, livid at both the chairman for serving under Dracula, and the honor of being his bride, which she personally found exceedingly repugnant.

"She was... never turned. She lived happily... with the Count... and together... they had one child. From this... the idea... of coexistence... was born... though neither... were aware of it."

"And what happened then," Yukari asked with a fearful look.

A deep sigh came from the prisoner. "Lisa... was murdered... by the humans she sought to protect."

"No!" Kurumu exclaimed. "How could they?"

Tsukune looked away, a pained expression on his face. He guessed such actions were the reason Moka's father despised humans.

The robed figure said nothing at first as he regarded the cyan-haired girl. "Dracula... grew vengeful. He lashed out... at the humans... who'd bereft him of his beloved. The war... between our races... raged on with renewed vigor... and the idea... of coexistence... was almost forgotten. I knew... such a war... would inevitably extinguish all life. However... I had not... the power... to stop Dracula alone... so I feigned loyalty... until a solution could be found."

"And did you find one," the brown-haired youth asked curiously.

"Yes. Though it took... over two centuries... the people... and the means... to completely destroy Dracula... were obtained. It also required... an allegiance... with my former master's sworn enemies." He paused for a moment, as his eyes dulled and then brightened again. "The clan of Belmont."

"Belmont," Yukari asked.

"Yes, the strongest... of all vampire hunters."

The white-haired woman bared her fangs in response. Her expression softened as she felt Tsukune's arm around her shoulders.

"They distrusted us," the robed figure continued, "naturally... for we were once enemies. However... when we presented... our plan... to destroy Dracula for all time... they reluctantly agreed. The last Belmont... called Simon... destroyed Dracula's body... and burned his remains in the ruins of his castle. We moved in... and took hold of the Dark One's soul. We divided it... into three parts... and each of us... held one. We still hold them... to this day. As long... as we live... Dracula... can never return... to our world."

"What," a thunderstruck Tsukune asked. "You're saying you hold a piece of Dracula's soul?"

"Yes, as do my comrades... who assisted in the binding ritual. The black mage Fuhai Touhou, and your father, Akashiya-san, who went under another moniker... in those days."

The vampire's expression looked awed, and then it melted in a warm, relieved smile, as she pressed her palms against her chest. "I knew it," she said to herself, "Chichiu-e fought to stop Dracula. He'd never want him to return." A pained gasp escaped her, as she began to understand his ire when she spoke the name of his hated enemy. Her hands covered her open mouth, as her crimson irises went wide in realization.

"Moka-san," Tsukune asked in concern.

She looked to the human student beside her. "Tsukune," she spoke in a barely audible voice, "what have I done?"

"This is not your fault," the boy responded lowly. "They set you up, just like they did last night."

A mournful sigh escaped the usually indomitable super monster. As much as she knew her friends were correct in their assesment, it didn't make her heart any lighter. Her slender arms reacher around Tsukune's back, and pulled him close to her. The brown-haired youth was surprised at first, but soon returned the embrace.

"This is how," the chairman continued, "we... the Three Dark Lords... came into being. Our main duty... has always been... to destroy all evidence... of Dracula's existence... as well as prevent... the rise of any... similar to him."

Ruby listened closesly to what her superior had relayed. As he considered it, a horrific idea came to her. "Oh no, is that what he was after?"

"Not exactly," the chairman's voice replied. "After the battle... I began to build... the academy... and along with my comrades... the Grand Barrier. However... before the barrier... was complete... Dracula's legions... rose against us... in one final battle... which was later known... as the Dark Judgment. Belmont assisted us... and after a grueling contest... the minions of the Dark One... were cast down. Those who survived... were incarcerated in this prison. And his strongest servant... was sealed away... for all time."

"Hold on!" Yukari interrupted as she facd the chairman. "His strongest servant? You don't mean-"

The whole group looked to one another. "COLTON!" they shouted in unison.

"It is puzzling," the robed figure mused. "The one... known as Pierce Colton... shares the same aura... as the one... that was sealed away. I am... ashamed... I did not... discern it sooner. However... his memories... are dissimilar."

The older witch gave him a baffled look. "What do you mean, Mikogami-sama?"

"He recalled... the battle... as a victory... for Dracula. Moreover-"

The female vampire scowled slightly as she felt the chairman's attention upon her.

"He claimed... that you, Moka Akashiya, possesed... the Vampire Killer."

"The what?" Kurumu spoke up.

"It is... the weapon," the trapped figure continued, "used... by the Belmont Clan... to fight against the darkness. It is... the very weapon... that slew Dracula... centuries ago."

"And why on earth would he think I'd posses a murder weapon," the white-haired woman remarked sourly, as she dug her knuckles into her hip.

"Though his assumption... was inaccurate... he was... far too close... to the truth. I could not... allow... the whip of Belmont... to fall into his hands."

Moka's eyes widened in rage, and she bared her fangs at the chairman. "You mean Kokoa was right all along about that thing?" she shouted indignantly. "And you had the audacity to even touch me with that disgusting implement? How dare you! If you weren't sealed away I'd rip your throat out, dismember your carcass, and burn your remains in the hottest fire I can find!"

Tsukune was startled by his friend's outburst, as well as what she revealed. "Moka-san, what are you talking about?"

The white-haired woman gave him a menacing look as she turned in his direction, though she pointed an elongated digit at the chairman. "This idiot used that whip on me in order to bypass my seal and speak with me directly after he forced you sleep standing up. And while he's trying to interrogate me," she continued with biting sarcasm, "I get shocked by some vile energy and wind up looking like THIS!" she finished expressively, as she bared her fangs and raised her clawed hands for emphasis.

The brown-haired youth's face blazed his anger, as he remembered the incident in the nurse's office. He then glared at the trapped chairman. "Is this true," he asked menacingly.

"Mikogami-sama," Ruby spoke desperately, horrified by what she'd just learned, "say it isn't so."

"It is... partially true," the chairman replied gravely.

The female vampire narrowed her eyes at the robed man. "And how is it not?"

"The whip... did not... alter you... on its own accord. It only... exposed... what already... existed... within you."

"What do you mean," Moka asked suspiciously, "what did it expose?"

An air of great sadness exuded fom within the crystal. "It exposed... the curse... of Dracula."

"What?" Moka exclaimed in shock.

"That can't be, desu!" Yukari piped in. "If that's true, how did Moka-san become cursed in the first place?"

"That I know not," the chairman gravely replied. "What I do know is... even after all these centuries... the whip... still remembers... it's mortal enemy. It reacted... to the Dark One's curse. This is how... Colton found you... Moka Akashiya."

The white-haired woman backed away, a look of disbelief on her face. She slowly lowered her gaze, and looked down at her hands. She turned her hands around, and gazed in chargin at her extended and blood-colored nails. Coupled with her elongated fingers made her hands look anything but human.

"Moka-san," Tsukune spoke soothingly, as he laid his gentle hands on her shoulders.

The pale woman stood for several moments, and then looked over her shoulder towards him. Although such a look usually illicted fear, her crimson irises held nothing but shame within them. "I'm sorry, Tsukune," she whispered, "I never wanted you to get involved in this."

The brown-haired youth wrapped his arms across her shoulders. "This is not your fault," he spoke quietly. "We're going to save you, Moka-san."

The white-haired woman sighed silently as she bowed her head. "I know," she whispered, "but please, don't lose yourself in the process. I couldn't bear it."

Kurumu looked sadly at them, as she sorely wished she was the object of Tsukune's attentions. But as she thought about what she'd heard, a couple of facts seemed contradictory to her, so she turend to the imprisoned being before her. "Wait a minute, back up! If Colton is the same guy that was sealed away after that last battle, how did he get loose? And how does he remember the battle as a victory when it's obvious his side lost?"

"Good question," Mizore added, "it sounds like there's two of him."

Tsukune gave them a timid expression. "Two of him," he asked nervously.

"Actually," a male voice spoke from behind the others, "that's not as far-fetched as it sounds."

Everyone turned, and saw a tall thin man with long blonde hair near the entrance. He was clad in a red tuxedo, as he held his gloved fingertips together.

"Saint Germain," the chairman's voice spoke in awe, "you have returned!"

"Well, yes and no," the newcomer casually replied. "This is actually my first time here," he continued, "though I do recall we met, oh, some time ago. Just wasn't here."

"What the hecht," Kurumu asked with a confused expression.

"Chairman-sama," Ruby spoke up, "who is this man?"

"What is this man," Mizore asked, unable to discern the strange aura the newcomer possessed.

"I say," the man protested, "it's terribly rude to call someone a 'what,' don't you think? I mean do you appreciate not being treated as an individual? I mean, even monsters have feelings, don't they?"

Kurumu looked shocked at what he'd spoken. "Who told you we were monsters?"

"Now now, no need to be suspicious. Actually, it's quite commendable to see so many of you trying to fit in to human society. Quite different than where I come from, but that's another story." He crinkled his nose as he looked about. "Alas, it seems Zead has done his darndest to bring down this establishment. Not surprising, since it goes against everything he believes in."

Most of the group was dazed and confused from the stranger's words. They muttered unintelligibly as black swirls appeared where their eyes should've been. Moka simply growled, folded her arms under her chest and turned away in a huff. She was already annoyed by the man's unusual presence and didn't want to be irritated further.

"Where were we again," Ruby asked with a preplexed smile before she finally regained her composure. "Oh yes, Mikogami-sama, who is this man?"

"He is one," the sealed school official began, "who travels through time. Long ago... he appeared before us. He made... the proposition... of joining forces with the Belmonts. The Third scoffed at the idea... but the Second was intrigued. Together... we formed the means... to eliminate Dracula forever. And it came to pass... but not without a price."

Tsukune was stunned at what he'd heard. He sort of guessed Moka's father was immortal, since he was a vampire. But from what he'd just heard, he began to believe that the other Dark Lords, as well as Saint Germain, were also immortal, since they'd lived for so many centuries. The claim that Germain was a time traveler flabbergasted the human student, who never imagined he'd discover anything so outrageous when he first arrived at the academy. As he looked to his bewildered friends, he imagined they felt the same way.

"What price," the older witch asked her superior.

"The last Belmont fell... in the final battle... as did the sorceress... Fiona Belnades... the last of her clan. The whip... is all that remains... of the legacy... and the war."

The blonde man looked rather intrigued. "Hmm, so that's how it concluded here, quite different than where I come from."

"What do you mean," Yukari asked curiously.

The stranger regarded the group as a whole. "Well, imagine, if you will," he began as he raised his index finger, "an infinite number of parallel worlds, where numerous possibilities are played out in each one. Zead and myself," he continued, as he motioned towards his chest with both hands, "come from one of these worlds. The whole reason I came here was to find Zead and stop him from causing any trouble in this dimension." He frowned lightly as he looked about the ceiling. "But it seems I've failed initially in that regard."

"Uh, parallel what," a confused Kurumu asked.

"Think of it this way," the enigmatic man explained. "In this world, Count Dracula has been dead for centuries, courtesy of the temporary alliance between the Belmonts and the Three Dark Lords. The evil ones rose up to avenge their fallen lord, but were thoroughly crushed, and Zead was sealed away, much to everyone's relief." A mournful sigh escaped his lips. "Alas, both the Belmont and Belnades clans perished in that conflict. Quite unfortunate, considering the current state of affairs."

Kurumu looked to him as she considered what he'd revealed. She was thunderstruck when she pieced the facts together. "Are you serious?" she demanded of the enigmatic man. "Colton's real name is Zead? What kind of stupid name is that?"

"Is that the guy who survived the explosion of an interdimensional generator," Mizore asked.

Moka winced in response. She didn't want the others to realize she did know someone who'd survived the explosion of a generator, and was never the same afterwards. She cringed as she remembered what the person in question became after the accident.

"Oh heavens no," Germain rebutted, "Zead is just a pseudonym he went by in the old days, much like how he goes by Pierce Colton here. He doesn't actually have a name, though he does have a purpose, which is why the Three Dark Lords couldn't actually kill him. It would really make a mess of things. Almost as much as an, interdimensional generator," he mused as he held his chin with his gloved fingertips. "Hmm, do they actually make those here?"

Everyone grimaced at the thought, as well as how casually the man had spoken of it.

"Listen well, my children," Mikogami spoke urgently. "Dracula... must be stopped. If he... is fully restored... the balance... of power... in the youkai realms... will be... disrupted. War... shall consume them... again, and soon... the human world... shall become involved... as well. This must... never happen."

"It won't, Chairman-sama," a determined Tsukune spoke boldly. "We won't let Dracula destroy everything you and the other Dark Lords have sought to achieve." He then sighed somberly, and lowered his gaze. "It's, just a shame. It could've been him, and his wife, who created this. If they'd only believed."

"Don't be so conceited," a harsh remark came from beside him.

He turned to his right, and gasped at the scathing look aimed at him. "Moka-san," he exclaimed.

"Listen to me, Tsukune," the white-haired woman began coldly, even more so than she had when they first met, "that bastard does not deserve your sympathy. He doesn't deserve any semblance of mercy. The only thing he does deserve, is a slow agonizing death. He tore my life apart just for his own amusement, and he'll do the same to yours. He has no use for kindness or understanding, and if you showed him any, he'd laugh at your misguided sentiments and then kill you. So you must show none when we kill him. And if you're incapable of that, stay out of the battle, you'll only get in the way. Is that understood?"

None of the girls decided to debate Moka's stance on the coming battle. Germain looked quite concerned as he regarded her. It reminded him of another individual with white hair and a rather surly disposition. He couldn't decide who was more temperamental, though he was certain the super monster before him would've felt differently at the end of their quest. "You were also a different person at the end," he thought to himself, "weren't you, Hector?"

"Do not... be dismayed," Mikogami spoke up fom within the crystal, "the answer... shall come in time. For now... focus not... on the past... but on the future... that Dracula threatens... to destroy. I shall prepare you... for the coming battle."

"Chairman-sama," Ruby asked in concern, as she felt her superior's youki resonating within the crystal, and heard him chanting in an indecipherable tongue, which sounded familiar to the one used by the inhuman mage that had fought with them against Ririko. She noticed as the whole room began to pulse with the chairman's magic.

"Youkius Restriosis Magnus!" the imprisoned figure announced, and an unusual violet aura surrounded the whole party. Any leftover injuries they'd endured were mended, and their auras were completely restored, even that of Moka, who looked on in disbelief at the chairman, amazed that he could've cast such an incantation within his confinement.

Michiru looked in awe at the robed figure within the crystal. "Mikogami-sama," she spoke reverently, "we won't fail you, or your dream."

A relieved sigh came from the incarcerated being. "At last... one has understood. Go now... my children. Fight... to protect... our future."

"We will."

"Oh, and before I forget," Germain spoke up, which got the group's attention, "if someone looking like me asks you if you'd met anyone that matches his description, tell him, 'yes.' And if he asks why I was here, it was to corral Zead and bring him back where he belongs. Yes, he'll probably debate the issue, but do try to patient. He'll definitely understand what that rapscallion has wrought. Well, that's about it. Cheerio." With a tip of his hat, a golden sphere of light appeared around him and he disappeared, and left the group baffled. Without a word, they decided not to try to understand what the traveler had relayed.

The group made their way up to the ground floor of the dungeon. No sooner than they did that they noticed the hallway had darkened considerably, and the air had gotten colder. Moka knit her white brows together and scowled at the abrupt change of atmosphere. She went forward through the wall Tsukune had demolished earlier in the day and headed for the exit.

"Hey!" the brown-haired youth called out. "Wait up, Moka-san!"

Kurumu shivered slightly as she headed after her friends. "Not again," she grumbled. "Don't they ever stop?"

The young witch wore a leery expression as she followed behind. "This cold feeling," she remarked, "are Dracula's followers attacking again?"

"That would be my first guess," Ruby replied with a stern look. "We'd best hurry, Yukari-chan. There's no telling what's happening to the school now."

"Right."

The group quickly followed Moka out of the dungeon. They soon found her looking up at the moon, which hung ominously in the crimson nighttime sky of the academy.

"What the hecht," Kurumu asked in surprise. "How long were we down there?"

"Were we really underground all day, desu," Yukari asked timidly, as she shivered from the cold air that nipped at her.

The white-haired woman slightly shook her head in response. "I don't think so," she remarked. "This night, it doesn't feel natural."

"What," the incognito succubus asked, "that's impossible! Nothing can turn the day to night except-" She gasped in horror as the answer came to her.

"Yes," the super monster replied as she looked over her shoulder, "a vampire."

The brown-haired youth looked to her, and then a horrible idea came to him. "Oh no, he didn't!" he shouted as he broke into a dash.

"Tsukune!" Kurumu called out.

Before he got too far ahead, a huge circle of flame erupted from the ground and surrounded the entire group. The fires shot up nearly ten feet into the air. The snow girl immediately felt weak as the intense heat washed over her.

"Mizore-chan!" Kurumu cried out, and held her stricken friend upright. "Mizore-chan, hang on!"

"Mizore-chan!" Yukari wailed, wholly aware of what such heat did to snow people.

The purple-haired breathed weakly in the succubus' embrace, as beads of sweat ran down her face. "Too hot," she muttered.

"Mizore-chan!" Tsukune cried out, but as he was about to head towards her, he was stopped by a strong grip on his arm. He looked back, and saw the white-haired woman held his upper arm, all the while looking forward into the flames. "Moka-san, what are you doing?"

"It's him," the female vampire spoke bluntly.

The human student looked ahead, and watched as a dark figure walked through the flames, slowly headed in their direction. Tsukune soon felt the oppressive aura the being generated, and needed no further explanation. He walked up and stood beside Moka, and glared at the approaching enemy with a harsh expression. "Kuyou."

The tall blonde man chuckled as he walked towards the group.

Whoa! So he finally appears, to finish what he started one year ago. Will the group have the strength to defeat Kuyou again? Will they be able to carry out the Chairman's wishes and stop the sinister machinations of Dracula? And will they be able to stop Tsukune from becoming his own worst enemy, and theirs?

"'Bout time we got to the good part, bloody thing's been draggin' on for months now. Ran out of ale long ago."

Hey! You're not supposed to be in this fic!

"Whatever. As for the hot chick who looks like death warmed over, I feel your pain. And you will soon enough."

"What's that supposed to mean, you unwashed human vagabond?"

"All I can say is, it's bad luck to be you."

Oh crud, you can't be serious. Anyway, tune in next time for Part I Chapter XXIV Trial By Fire

And before I forget;

"obaa-san" = older woman or aunty.

"okaasan" = mother.

Thanks again to Ou-Rex, her knowledge has proven invaluable.