loveandservitude

Love and Servitude

The rain poured down, the wind howling through the cold night air. A black horse drawn carriage raced down the mountains towards the small town of Piorre which lay nestled in a small forest at its base. The town was blanketed in darkness as the carriage approached, as though all the light had fled from the place. The tiny quaint town was deathly silent, the villagers holding their breath and waiting for this evil force to pass. The carriage came to a halt in front of one of the houses, waiting for a moment as the driver made certain he had stopped at the right house.

It was one of the smaller homes, and it seemed to be in poor shape. The windows were sagging and uneven, and the roof was littered with holes. The door was practically hanging off its hinges, blowing in the wind.

With a click, the carriage door unlocked and creaked open. A large gray creature stepped out of the carriage. It looked as though its body had been carved from stone, its lanky slender body hunched over to fit through the carriage door. It stepped aside, averting its glowing red eyes as an older gentleman stepped out of the carriage. He was fairly tall, and appeared to be quite wealthy. His black suit soon was drenched with rain as he walked to the door. He knocked on the door, being careful not to break it even more than it already was. A young woman came to the door, shivering and wet from the cold. Her blond hair was dirty and disheveled, and refused to straighten out no matter how hard the woman struggled with it. The man tipped his hat to her and smiled.

"Please, don't be ashamed of your appearance. I've come strictly on business." the man said.

"What do you want?" she snapped.

"You have a son, yes?" the man asked politely.

"Yes, what does it matter?" the woman replied, a worried tone in her voice.

"I've come to offer him a job." the man said, a sly grin on his face.

"No, I won't allow him to serve the likes of you!" she spat.

"Now now, I mean you and your family no harm. I simply came bearing an offer. If you wish to refuse, so be it, but at least let me explain." the man said with a slight bow of his head.

"Go on." the woman groaned, realizing he wasn't going to leave unless all hope was lost.

"Your son will be in good hands, we really do mean him no harm. It's just that, my mistress hasn't been taking kindly to the castle's servants. I thought maybe she needed someone who she could relate to, someone closer to her own age." the man continued.

The woman simply glared at him.

"We can provide for your son, make sure he is well fed and that his needs are met. Do you really want to keep him here so much, in a place where he doesn't know when his next meal will be, or where he can't get a night of sleep because of the cold? Please, I am trying to help both of us, and I will gladly pay you for his services as well." the man said, taking out a large velvet pouch.

The woman reluctantly took the large pouch of gold, realizing the man was right. Walking back inside she took her son by the hand, tears filling her eyes. She led him outside, hugged him for the last time, and watched as the man led him into the carriage. The carriage took off back up the mountain towards a large castle at its peak, the boy's mother watching all the while.

The boy had dozed off in the carriage, sleeping soundly the whole way. The man looked over at his companion, drying himself off.

"I hope Mina takes kindly to this boy. If not, I fear nothing will calm her down." the man sighed.

"Don't worry Byron, I'm sure she's just lonely is all. Can't blame her really. She's only ten and you expect her to be happy associating with servants three times her age, or even more? There's no one at the castle she can talk to about things that interest her or to play with." the creature replied.

"I hope you're right Sergyx, I hope you're right..." Byron sighed.

As the carriage pulled up to the castle, the young boy slowly opened his eyes, the jostling of the carriage rousing him from sleep. He jumped slightly, startled that what had happened to him wasn't a dream as he originally thought. Byron opened the carriage door and escorted the boy outside. Despite being nervous of his new surroundings, the boy could sense that these strangers meant him no harm. He followed them nervously through the massive castle doors, unsure of what they wanted from him, but at the same time too afraid to ask. The dark castle was elaborately decorated, crimson and gold tapestries hanging throughout the stone halls. The castle hall opened into a large foyer, which branched off to a multitude of doors. Byron led the boy up the stairs to the door at the back left of the room. A long winding staircase led up the north eastern tower, four doors along the southern wall. They climbed up to the third floor and opened the door. In the middle of a long hallway was a large wooden double door, one painted red and the other purple. Byron gave the door a light knock and waited.

"Who is it?" a quiet voice snapped from the other side of the door.

"Mistress, are you busy?" Byron asked.

"No, Byron, what is it." she groaned.

"I've brought someone for you." Byron replied.

"Great, another useless servant. Show him in." she said with a sigh.

Byron opened the door and let the boy inside. He timidly walked into a large bedroom, its walls painted crimson reds and deep lavenders. An oak desk rested at one end of the room, piles and piles of stuffed animals on either side. In the far corner of the room was a large canopy bed fitted with purple silk sheets. A young girl of about ten years old sat on the bed looking over at the boy. Her brown hair was tied back with red ribbons into two pigtails, which hung down to her shoulders. She wore a black and crimson lace dress, her stocking feet gently swaying as she stared quizzically at the boy standing before her. Her pale red eyes looked him over, a smile coming to her lips.

"Hi..." she said, starting to blush.

The boy nervously looked around, not sure of how to reply.

"What's your name?" the girl asked, tilting her head to the side.

"Timothy..." the boy mumbled shyly.

"Well, It's a pleasure to meet you. I'm Mina." the girl replied cheerfully.

Timothy hesitantly walked towards Mina, sensing there was something different about her, something he couldn't quite place. The girl rose to her feet and walked over to Timothy.

"So, I guess Byron brought you here to entertain me. I've been so lonely lately, with no one to play with." Mina sighed.

Timothy just stared at her timidly, saying not a word. She looked at him, confused.

"Something the matter?" Mina asked, giving Timothy a poke.

He flinched a bit, the poke tickling him a little.

"You don't have to be shy, it's not like you're going anywhere." Mina continued, poking him again.

Starting to grin, she kept poking him, backing him towards the pile of stuffed animals. Timothy started giggling, unable to contain his laughter any longer. Mina kept up her poke assault, until she had him right where she wanted. Without warning, she pounced, tackling Timothy into the mound of toys. She worked her hands under his arms, tickling him relentlessly. Timothy struggled and writhed in hopes of breaking free of her grasp, but it was no use. She started giggling as she helped pull Timothy out of the pile of stuffed animals. She ruffled his hair as she helped him to his feet.

"Must be nice living in a place like this." Timothy said with a laugh.

"It's okay, so lonely here though. You won't leave me will you?" Mina asked.

"N-no. They brought me here for you." Timothy replied.

Mina's face lit up as those words left his lips. The clock suddenly chimed, signaling the time.

"It's almost sunrise, I better get to sleep before Byron yells at me again. I'll see you tomorrow night." Mina said, kissing Timothy on the forehead.

"But shouldn't you just be getting up at sunrise?" Timothy asked, confused.

Mina laughed, having expected Timothy to know what she was by now. She lifted up the left side of her lip revealing a large fang.

"I'll see you tomorrow night." she giggled.

"S-sure thing." he replied with a blush, walking out the door.

Ten years had passed since that fateful encounter. Timothy remained under Mina's personal attendants, although she treated him more as a friend than a servant, growing up together as childhood friends. He would do menial task for her like cleaning her room and making her bed, that is when she wasn't teasing him and getting in his way. Despite their age, they still acted like children at times, Mina playfully harassing him in one way or another.

Timothy wandered the halls, fetching Mina a glass of water from the kitchen. He opened up the wood cabinets and grabbed a glass. He opened one of the water barrels and dipped the glass in, filling it with cold water. Covering the top with his hand, he walked back up to Mina's room. As he handed her the glass, Mina gave him a smile. Taking a sip, she put her hand on his shoulder.

"Thank you, Tim. I was really thirsty. Have a seat." she sighed.

"Something bothering you?" he asked, sensing some disdain in her voice.

"No, just bored." she sighed in reply.

"Oh, thats all, huh..." Timothy said.

"What do you mean 'that's all'? Do something about it!" Mina snapped teasingly.

"How should I know how to keep you busy?" Timothy sighed.

"Well, I suggest you come up with something, before I do..." Mina said, a menacing grin coming across her face.

Timothy sat in thought, trying to come up with a way to entertain his master. He felt her hands slide under his arms, wrapping around his chest. Timothy tightened up nervously, wondering what Mina was up to.

"Any ideas?" she asked sweetly.

"Not yet..." Timothy replied hesitantly.

He suddenly felt an intense tingling sensation jolt through his body as Mina worked her fingers under his arms. He writhed in frustration trying to break free. Mina giggled with joy at Timothy's torment. Unable to contain himself any longer, Timothy burst into laughter.

"Please, stop, I'll do anything!" Timothy pleaded between laughs.

Satisfied with herself, Mina released him, a wide grin on her face.

"Thank God that's over with..." Timothy gasped.

Mina shot him a smile, but he could still see something was bothering her. Putting his arm around her shoulder, he looked her in the eyes.

"Please, tell me what's going on." Timothy asked, his tone suddenly turning serious.

Mina looked at him, her smile fading as her eyes began welling up with tears.

"What was it like before you were brought here? Were you happy?" she asked.

Timothy was taken aback, surprised at Mina's question.

"I was always hungry, could never sleep, and lived in poverty and depravity. What do you think?" Timothy asked sarcastically.

"I see, so you don't regret becoming a prisoner in this place, like me, never to see the outside world? In all the years of my life, I've never set foot outside this castle. I've never felt the cool night breeze against my face, the grass beneath my bare feet, the refreshing taste of fresh spring water..."

At this point, Mina's voice began to crack, tears starting to stream down her face. She buried her face into Timothy's chest, her tears quickly soaking through his shirt. He rubbed her back, kissing her forehead.

"I'll see what I can do about that." Timothy whispered in her ear.

Mina's eyes lit up at the thought of being able to go outside. Hugging Timothy once more, she let out a yawn.

"I'm getting sleepy. I'll see you tomorrow night." she said, ruffling his hair.

"Sure thing, master." he said jokingly.

Walking out of the room, Timothy made his way around the halls in search of Byron. He found him in the foyer with Sergyx. As they saw Timothy approach, they immediately grew quiet, cutting their conversation short.

"How is the princess doing?" Sergyx asked.

"That's actually what I came here about. She's depressed, longing to leave the castle walls. If you would please just allow her to go outside, even if only to stay on the castle grounds." Timothy pleaded.

"You know we can't allow that." Byron replied sternly.

"I just feel so sorry for her, never even having the simple pleasures of life, like the feeling of grass between her toes." Timothy sighed.

"I know, but she has become a massive target to the rival clans. If they ever learned of her location..." Byron continued.

"So what do you propose we do?" Timothy asked.

"Keeping her pleased is your field, Tim. You figure it out." Sergyx replied with a smirk.

"I did..." Timothy protested.

"And we said it's not happening, so work around it." Byron grumbled.

Timothy groaned and walked away, walking upstairs to his room. Frustrated, he tossed his pillow at the wall and fell onto his bed, trying to think of a way to cheer Mina up. After hours of planning, exhaustion finally got the better of him, and he drifted off to sleep.

Timothy awoke the next night with the rise of the moon. Walking down the halls, he checked if the coast was clear. He quickly snuck up to Mina's room, slipping inside. A smirk crept across his lips, the peaceful look on Mina's face as she slept warming Timothy's heart. He walked over to her and gently ruffled her hair. Mina tossed a bit, rolling over.

"C'mon sleepy head. I've got a surprise for you." Timothy said, poking her in the side.

Mina squeaked, cringing as Timothy's finger tickled her side. She slowly sat up and rubbed her eyes. Timothy took her by the hand and nearly dragged her out the door.

"There's not much time, so we've got to hurry." he said, opening the door a crack.

He peered outside to check if the coast was clear, and then pulled Mina along behind him as he raced down the hall. Making his way down the stairwell at the end of the hall, he stopped at the bottom floor. There was a small wooden door that seemed untouched for years set into the outer wall of the tower. With a gentle push, the door opened revealing an open grassy field. A cool breeze swept inside, Mina's eyes lighting up as her hair started to sway. She ran out onto the grass, overcome with joy. Timothy watched as she sprawled out on the ground, soaking up the atmosphere. Tim walked over to her and smiled.

"So, what do you think?" he asked, looking down at her.

"It's amazing..." she muttered in reply, staring up at the full moon.

"I'm glad you like it." Timothy replied.

Timothy nearly lost his balance as Mina pounced into his arms, kissing him. Though he was aware Mina had feelings for him, he was surprised at how willing she was to show them despite the vast gap between their social roles. He couldn't help but start to blush.

"Thank you so much for everything, Tim." Mina said, grinning uncontrollably.

"It was nothing, really. We should get going though, Byron doesn't know you're out here, and I don't plan on him finding out." Timothy replied, leading her back towards the tower.

Timothy quickly escorted Mina back to her room before Byron had any idea she was gone at all. Mina's face was practically glowing as she sat down on the bed. Bursting with excitement, she could hardly keep still, bouncing in place and giggling uncontrollably. As Timothy sat down next to her, Mina clung to him like a small hyperactive child.

"Thank you thank you thank you thank you thank you thank you..." she squealed at an almost rapid fire pace.

Timothy couldn't help but to laugh.

"Just promise me you won't tell anyone about what we did. Byron would kill me if he ever found out." Timothy said.

"Okay." Mina chimed, giving him a squeeze.

"I'm glad you had fun." Timothy said, patting her on the head.

"Just wish it could have lasted longer." Mina sighed.

"Next time it will, I promise." he replied.

Mina let out a soft giggle, wondering what to do next.

The door suddenly burst open, Sergyx standing in the doorway scowling. He held a small black creature in his talon. It was round with a large golden eye at its center, which Sergyx had already jabbed his talon through. As he tossed the writhing eye to the ground, he crushed it underfoot.

"I found one of these in the castle, and I suspect there's more. For the princess' safety, I am going to have to ask you to stay away from her room until we do a full sweep of the castle. Should any slip in here, Mina will be in grave danger." Sergyx said, looking at Timothy.

Mina stared over at Timothy longingly as he rose to his feet.

"How long is this going to take?" he groaned.

"I'm not sure, but you'll be the first to know when it's done." Sergyx replied, ushering Timothy out of the room.

Timothy walked back downstairs and to his room, not entirely sure how to occupy his time now that he was unable to see Mina. He lied down on his bed, questions racing through his mind.

"What was that thing? Did this all happen because I let her outside... was this my fault?" Timothy wondered.

All the while he heard a tapping noise. He assumed it was his foot tapping rapping against the bed in nervous trepidation, until he stopped. He looked over to the window to see a small bat frantically bombarding the glass. As Timothy opened the window, the bat flew in, dropped a small note on the floor, and took off. Picking up the note, he read it over to himself.

"I was going to visit in person, but now does not seem to be the best time. I see Mina has taken quite a liking to you, so I trust you will make sure she comes to no harm. I look forward to meeting you face to face."

Timothy put the note away and laid back down. He was now left with even more questions than before about Mina's past, something that had been kept secret for as long as he could remember.

"Dammit, how do they expect me to keep away from Mina while they search the castle, now I'm even more worried." Timothy groaned.

Bored out of his mind, he got up and began to roam the halls. As he went, he noticed the castle guards scurrying about in search of those eyes.

"Tim!" a voice boomed down the hall.

Byron quickly caught up with him and grabbed Timothy by the collar.

"You let her go outside, even after I specifically told you not to. Can't say I'm surprised, though. I can't really hold it against you, but since this is your fault, you're helping me these little bastards down." Byron sighed.

"What are they anyway?" Timothy asked.

"Homonculi created to let their creator see through its eye, ocules." Byron replied.

"Fine, needed something to keep me busy anyway." Timothy sighed.

He walked down to the first floor and started wandering the castle halls. Bored, he started moving the occasional tapestry in search of ocules. He grumbled in disappointment with each futile search as he moved on.

Mina sat in her room, sulking. She slipped out of her silk nightgown and began sifting through her drawers for something to wear. As she searched, she noticed something scuttle out of the shadows. Running over to it, she grabbed hold of the black creature before it could escape. She looked the tiny ocule in the eye. In its pupil, she saw a man staring back at her. His face was lean, narrowing to a pointed goatee. His black hair was slicked back, falling to the base of his neck. He stared at her with his dark eyes, shining with a glint of malice as he gave her a wave. Mina quickly crushed the ocule, throwing it to the ground in fear. She let out a shriek, covering herself with a robe. Sergyx burst through the door in concern.

"Are you alright?" he asked, surveying the room.

She nodded as she slowly stood up. She looked over at the smashed ocule on the ground.

"I'm putting the castle on full alert. Nothing will happen to you under my watch." Sergyx said, darting out of the room.

As he ran down the halls, Sergyx saw Timothy searching through some crates.

"One of those things found it's way into Mina's room. I'm putting everyone on full alert, yourself included. You'll be required to carry a weapon at all times." Sergyx said, handing Timothy a sheathed short sword.

"I've been meaning to ask you something..." Timothy began.

"I've no time for this..." Sergyx groaned.

"It's important, it may concern Mina's safety. I really can't be sure. I need to know about her past, her life before I came to be her servant." Timothy pressed.

"What do you mean? Is she in even more danger?" Sergyx asked.

"I don't know, can't explain it. I just think someone else has been watching her, and for far longer than the owner of these ocules." Timothy continued.

"Fine, if you must know, I will tell you. Her parents lived with her up until a year before you came here. Her mother was lord of the region, and being a pure blood, quite powerful at that. Her father, on the other hand, was a peculiar case..." Sergyx said.

"How so?" Timothy asked.

"Though he had been bitten, not enough vampiric blood flowed through his veins to turn him completely. He had some of the advantages, such as regeneration, and some of the disadvantages, mainly a sensitivity to sunlight. At heart he remained human, and quite defenseless by our standards." Sergyx replied.

"So what happened to them?" Timothy asked.

"I was getting to that. The vast size of their empire alone bred many an envious enemy to rise against them, and her mother's temper didn't help the situation any. Her father was murdered by one such enemy when she was eight. Her mother, fearing for her daughter's safety, fled just before Mina's ninth birthday. She feigned her death and entrusted the care of the remnants of her empire to Byron, who would claim he had killed her and Mina in order to obtain it. The ruse could only last so long I suppose, and it is finally starting to unravel." Sergyx sighed.

"Thank you. I think this is starting to make sense now... What do you make of this?" Timothy asked, handing Sergyx the letter.

Sergyx read over the letter, eyes wide.

"Go to Mina, now! If you value your life, you had better make sure not even a hair on her head is harmed before my return!" he said sternly, rushing down the hall towards the main gate.

Timothy ran up to Mina's room, bursting through the door.

"Are you alright?" Timothy asked.

"Just worried is all." she replied.

"Don't worry, I'm here. I'll make sure nothing happens to you." Timothy replied.

Mina clung to him, starting to cry. Timothy rubbed her head, holding her in his arms.

"He looked right at me..." she muttered.

"Who?" Timothy asked.

"I don't know. I saw him in the eye of that thing..." she sighed.

"It's almost sunrise, you should get some rest. I'm sure you'll feel better after a nice long sleep." Timothy said, walking her over to the bed.

"Maybe, I'm just so scared..." she replied.

"I'll stay with you if you want." Timothy offered.

"Thank you." she said, hugging him before laying down.

She closed her eyes and tried to get some sleep. Timothy held silent guard over her throughout the day. Just as he felt sleep dawning upon him, the door to Mina's room creaked open. He jumped to his feet and drew his sword.

"Calm down, it's me." Byron said, walking over to him.

"Any news?" Timothy asked.

"One of our scouts spotted a small army of golems heading towards the castle. I need you to protect Mina for me. You're the only one who can survive in the sunlight, with Sergyx being away. If they get too deep, we can back you up. Think you're up for the challenge?" Byron asked.

"Anything for Mina's sake." Timothy replied.

"Good. I'll take over here. You just get to the front gates and keep a sharp lookout." Byron replied, sending Timothy on his way.

Plowing through the front gate, Timothy drew his sword. Off in the distance he could see a cluster of bodies shuffling towards the castle. He cut down one of the tapestries and filled it with large stones. Once he felt it was good and full, he began swinging it over his head. He waited and waited, watching the mass closely. As soon as they were in range, he let the stones fly. He watched as the volley took out a good number of the golems. As they got closer, he could make out they were clay golems, created in a humanoid fashion and standing at about six feet tall. He tossed his makeshift sling aside and readied his sword. The golems moved surprisingly fast, and were now only a few yards away. One of the golems ran over to him readying a swing. Timothy sliced the golem in half as it reeled back to swing. The other six took the time to surround him while he was distracted. They began attacking him from all sides, pummeling into the ground. Timothy did his best to defend himself, but quickly became overwhelmed. Each blow felt stronger and more painful than the last. Just when he thought all was lost, the repeated strikes of the golems suddenly stopped. Timothy looked up to see Sergyx standing among the crumbled remains of the golems.

"First rule of combat, don't let yourself get surrounded." Sergyx said, helping Timothy to his feet.

"Is Mina alright?" Timothy asked, voice weak from pain and exhaustion.

"It looks like none of the golems got through the gate. It wasn't their intent. Who ever sent them wanted us to know we're no longer safe." Sergyx replied.

Timothy let out a smile, content knowing that Mina was safe, and collapsed. Sergyx carried him up to one of the spare rooms to have his wounds treated. Mina rarely left his side once the sun set, waiting for him to awaken. Hours passed, and before long it was late into the night. Timothy finally awoke, his body throbbing and sore. It hurt to move, despite his body being stiff. As he scanned the room, Timothy noticed Sergyx standing across the room.

"Just so you know, help is on the way. I have a feeling we won't be able to take on this threat alone. Should be here by tomorrow night. Rest up, you'll need it." he said, walking out of the room.

Timothy closed his eyes trying to sleep, but it was of no use. Despite tossing and turning, he couldn't find a position that was comfortable and pain free. He groaned in pain, trying to sleep. After a few hours, he worked his way into an upright position. Unable to sleep, his mind began to wander, wondering who was behind the attack on the castle. Eventually exhaustion got the better of him, and Timothy faded off to sleep.

He woke up in the middle of the day, a flaring pain shooting up his back. As he rolled over, the pain dulled and allowed him to get somewhat comfortable again. He heard the sound of a horses outside. Pulling up the window shade, he watched as a red and black velvet carriage passing through the gate. Timothy rolled out of bed and slowly got on his feet. He tried to walk to the door, but fell as his knees buckled under the weight. Crawling across the floor, he made his way to the door and nudged it open. Sergyx stood over him as the door opened.

"Tim, what are you doing?" he asked, helping Timothy up.

"A carriage just entered the castle. Is Mina..."

"Don't worry, Mina is safe. Help has finally arrived." Sergyx interrupted, walking Timothy back to his bed.

Timothy passed out, his trip across the room proving to be too much of an effort for him. He awoke late into the night, a cool breeze blowing in through the open window. As he sat up, Timothy noticed he wasn't alone. A woman leaned against the back corner of the room watching him. Her long blond hair, which was tied into a ponytail, hung down to her hips.

"Finally, you wake up. I've been waiting around for hours." she sighed, walking towards him.

Timothy inched back in fear, knowing he was completely defenseless.

"I'm glad you were able to keep Mina safe for so long. Everyone seems to hold you in the highest regard around here, especially Mina." the woman continued.

As she approached, she took off the cloak she was wearing, revealing a long black dress underneath, a red velvet corset at its top cinching her waist.

"Who are you?" Timothy stammered.

"Oh, I'm sorry. You know nothing of me, yet I know all about you. I'm Tielle, pleasure to finally meet you in person." she said, reaching a hand out towards Timothy.

He cautiously took her hand and bowed his head. She gave him a grin as she sat down next to him.

"So, how has my precious Mina been over the past few years? It's been forever since I saw her last." Tielle said.

"She's been well, a little depressed recently though. She's sick of being confined within the castle walls. She wants to know what it's like to feel a cool breeze against her skin, the grass beneath her feet..." Timothy began

"And so you let her out, and let Valdier's spies in. I heard all about your epic blunder. If it wouldn't bring my daughter to tears I'd beat the everliving hell out of you right now for that." she growled, her demeanor suddenly turning fierce.

"D-d-daughter?" Timothy asked, surprised.

"Why so shocked?" Tielle replied.

"You don't look a day over twenty-eight. How could you be her mother?" Timothy continued.

"It was something short of a miracle really. Mina's not a vampire in the... traditional sense..." Tielle replied.

"What do you mean?" Timothy asked.

"Well, she's not just some girl I bit and adopted as my own. Mina is of my own flesh and blood. That is why she ages like a mortal, but has all the other qualities of a vampire. I don't know if the aging will cease at some point, since vampires of her kind are extremely rare. I guess that's what helped keep her so well hidden. Everyone was looking for a little girl, all this time..." Tielle sighed.

"I guess so, but what are we going to do now that she's been found?" Timothy asked.

"Relocate. Not much else we can do. Valdier shouldn't be much of a problem, but others will find out soon enough, and then we'll have problems. If I've learned anything about the vampire community, very few of them can be trusted. They're all power hungry bastards for the most part." Tielle groaned as she sat down next to Timothy.

"So where do you plan on moving? I kind of like it here to be honest. It's quiet and peaceful..."

"Where I plan on moving is quiet and peaceful, even more so than here. It's in the frozen wastes to the north. My sister lives there. She's one of the few left I can trust." Tielle said.

"Why does it have to be someplace cold..." Timothy groaned in complaint.

"We could leave without you if you'd prefer..." Tielle teased.

"Fine I'll go. I just hate the cold." Timothy replied with a sigh.

"I better go say hi to my little girl. It was good to finally meet you in person." Tielle said, rising to her feet.

"Same." he replied.

"I must say, despite this whole fiasco you caused, you're not the total failure I thought you'd be." Tielle laughed as she walked out.

Timothy lied back down to get some sleep and let his wounds heal. Tielle walked down to Mina's room, a grin on her face. The opened the door and looked over at her daughter.

"I approve." she said with a smile, hugging her daughter.

"I thought I'd never see you again!" Mina squealed, wrapping her arms around her mother.

"I know, but I'm here now. We have so much to catch up on." Tielle replied.

"Yes, where have you been for all this time?" Mina asked.

"Here and there really. Never stayed in one place for too long." Tielle replied.

"Then how did Sergyx manage to pin you down?" Mina replied.

"He and Byron are the only two who know my hiding places. Mostly just visiting old friends. How about you?" Tielle asked.

"I've just been here with Tim. Not very exciting really..." Mina muttered.

"I know, but it's for your own protection." Tielle replied with a sigh.

Tielle ruffled Mina's hair, smiling at her.

"So, you really like Tim, don't you..." she said wistfully.

"Yes, I do. I just feel so safe around him. Hell, I've known him since I was ten." Mina said with a laugh.

"I still want to kill him for putting you in so much danger." Tielle growled.

"But I never felt so free until he let me out." Mina protested.

"I know, but..." Tielle began.

"I can take care of myself." Mina replied.

"You've no idea the danger you're in." Tielle sighed, standing up.

The castle walls suddenly trembled and shook. Tielle grabbed Mina and dragged her down the hall. She shoved her into the room Timothy was resting in.

"Stay there with Tim. I'm going to find out what the hell that was." Tielle yelled, running back out the door.

Tielle ran to the window and looked outside. A massive army of golems stood off in the distance. Stone golems climbed into catapults while Iron golems charged towards the castle. At the back of the army was a lean young man, sitting on a throne mounted on one of the golems. Tielle jumped out the window and landed outside the castle, joining Byron and Sergyx who were already out front.

"Ah, you must be the girl's mother. I see where she gets her pretty looks from." the man called out.

"I won't let you hurt my daughter!" Tielle yelled across the courtyard.

"Oh, I don't plan on hurting her. With a body like her's I'm sure she'll make a wonderful bride." the man scoffed.

"You bastard, I'll kill you!" Tielle screamed.

"Do your worst!" he replied confidently.

Tielle ran through the army of golems in a rage, slicing through them with her nails. The golems fell apart around her left and right as she tore through them. As she got closer to their leader, she saw his face. He was a fair skinned, almost immaculate man. His blonde hair was combed back, and his blue eyes glistened with self absorption and hubris.

"Morrion, you son of a bitch! I'll kill you right now for what you've done!" Tielle screamed as she leaped towards him.

Morrion's eyes widened with panic as Tielle flew at him. He flashed her a grin, and quickly dodged her attack.

"You're so predictable when you're angry." he laughed.

Tielle looked over at the golem Morrion was on. She quickly slashed at it's feet as she jumped up, watching the golem collapse under its own weight. Morrion took a step back as Tielle walked forward, an eerie grin on her face. Her hands began to fade into a thick black aura, eventually vanishing completely into darkness. Morrion finally realized he had made a terrible mistake in coming to take Mina. He ran in terror, commanding his golems to swarm Tielle. They crowded around her, piling on top of her in an attempt to slow her down. The golems quickly started to rot away, an unnatural darkness eating away at their very being. Tielle continued walking towards Morrion, who was now yards away and still running. Tielle stopped for a moment, watching Morrion look back at her. As soon as he turned his head, she made her move. With lightning speed she caught up to him, stopping in front of him in a matter of seconds. She wrapped her fingers around his throat, lifting him into the air. Morrion thrashed about for a bit, praying to escape, but it was of no use. Tielle tilted her head to the side, smiling all the while.

Snap

"Valdier must have spread the word about her... damn that bastard. he's trying to wear us down before he shows himself." she grumbled.

With that, Morrion's body fell limp. She tossed him aside and walked back to the castle, Byron and Sergyx standing dumbfounded at the entrance. Her rage subsided as she walked past them and through the castle doors. She walked up to Timothy's room and opened the door.

"It's all taken care of." Tielle sighed, sitting down next to Timothy.

"This is all my fault. I just wish I could protect her myself..." Timothy groaned.

"It can't be helped. You're not one of us, and I'd rather you not throw away your humanity just to protect her. It would only lead you both to more grief." Tielle said, turning away.

"What do you mean?" Timothy asked.

"I've wondered about that as well, mother. When I was young, you always used to tell me never to turn the one I love, even if his life depended on it. If I could save his life by doing so..." Mina began.

"I never did tell you what happened to your father..." Tielle muttered.

"He was killed by one of your enemies..." Mina said.

"What really happened to him." Tielle interjected.

The room went silent. Timothy began to shiver as a chill ran down his spine. Even though he had only just met her, Timothy knew right away this was a side Tielle seldom revealed, if at all. She took a deep breath, her breath quivering for a moment before moving on.

"A year after I saved your father's life, he began to change. He became completely subservient to me, no longer putting up the fight he usually did. He became cold and stoic, eventually losing all emotion. Worse yet, vampiric urges began to surface, and he created chaos wherever he went. Before long he had entire armies hunting him down. He was no longer the man I loved, or even a man at all for that matter. He was an animal, a rogue, diseased beast. I couldn't live seeing him like that, only a shell of what he used to be. In the end..." Tielle stopped for a minute, stifling a small whimper.

"...I was forced to kill him myself... to protect you..." she said as she looked up at Mina, starting to cry.

Mina was shocked. She started to tremble, not even knowing how to react. Tielle wiped away her tears, taking a deep breath. Calming down, she looked back up at Mina.

"He tried to attack you one night. Considering your mixed blood, I can only assume his animal instincts sensed you as more human than vampire. That was the night I killed him..." she sighed.

Tielle looked up for a moment in thought. Timothy and Mina looked at each other, both emotionally drained from the tale.

"You say you're not strong enough to protect my daughter... but I'm not certain that is truly the case." Tielle said, standing up.

"What do you mean? I couldn't do anything to protect her this time, and you handled it with such ease..." Timothy protested.

"You're not born with my kind of power. Most vampires have only a fraction of the power I possess. Follow me outside." Tielle said, beckoning to Timothy with her hand.

Timothy and Mina followed Tielle though the castle halls and out into the courtyard. Tielle stood a few yards from timothy, facing him.

"Mina, stay by the castle gate." Tielle said.

Mina complied to her mother's command, sitting down in front of the gate.

"Now, Tim, I want to test your strength. If you can last three minutes with me, I'll tell you how you can become stronger." Tielle said with a smirk.

"I'll give it my all." Timothy replied.

"Good, because you have no clue what you're getting into." she said, sinking into a low crouch, placing her palm to the ground.

Before he even knew what had happened, Tielle had him pinned to the ground. Smiling, she patted him on the cheek.

"Prepare for the longest three minutes of your life, boy." she laughed, giving Timothy a light slap to the face.

Timothy struggled to break free, pushing at Tielle with all his might, but it was no use. She was practically flat against him, giving Timothy no room to move.

"You really don't have any combat experience, fun." Tielle giggled, digging her knees into Timothy's side.

With one final heave, he managed to free himself from under Tielle, crawling back as fast as he could. Before he could even get to his knees, Tielle had him by the hair, forcing his head back. She laughed as she looked him in the eyes. Grinning, she pressed her forehead against his.

"Having a good time?" Tielle asked.

Timothy groaned in pain as Tielle kicked him in the chest. Mina cringed, turning away as her mother pummeled Timothy. Tears of pain filled his eyes as Tielle continued using him as her personal punching bag.

"You're pathetic! It hasn't even been a full minute yet and you're crying? How do you expect to protect my daughter if you can't even do the same for yourself!" she spat, continuing her assault.

Timothy started trembling with rage, refusing to let himself fail yet again. He jumped to his feet, mustering up all the strength he had left in him. Using all his might, he threw a hard punch, striking Tielle square in the chest. To his dismay, she didn't even flinch. She simply laughed it off and tightened her grip on him.

"At least you got a hit in." she chimed mockingly, smiling.

She then shoved Timothy to the ground once more and kicked him in the ribs. She looked down at her helpless target, holding nothing back as she delivered blow after blow relentlessly. Timothy cringed and groaned in pain, each strike hitting harder and harder. After what felt like forever, Tielle stopped.

"Well, it looks like you survived. I'm surprised." Tielle said, helping Timothy to his feet.

"Three minutes finally up?" he coughed, the only thing keeping him up on his feet being Tielle's shoulder.

"Yes. Brought back memories of keeping my husband in line time and time again." Tielle sighed as she led Timothy back to the castle.

"So, will you tell me how to get stronger?" Timothy asked as Tielle carried him up the stairs to his room.

"I promised I would, didn't I? I'll tell you when you've recovered." she replied.

She laid Timothy down on his bed and turned towards the door. Turning her head back to him, she smiled.

"I'm glad it was you who Byron chose to protect my daughter. I'll be back to check on you later." Tielle said, walking out.

Mina stood in the doorway, a smile of relief coming to her face.

"You're going to be okay, right?" she asked, walking over to him.

"Yea, just need a day or two to rest. Your mother hits harder than she lets on..." Timothy replied with a soft laugh.

"She was holding back... you knew that right?" Mina replied.

Timothy went silent. He hadn't even realized that Tielle was merely toying with him the whole time. He rubbed his hand against Mina's dress, smiling as he wished her good night. Mina walked outside, making her way to her own room. Timothy wasn't fully asleep, he was in to much pain to get comfortable. As he lay there awake, he heard voices outside his door.

"Good evening, your highness..." Sergyx said, his voice oozing with sarcasm.

"Cut the attitude, I'm in no mood." Tielle growled.

"I do have some news that may very well cheer you up. It's about your father." he replied.

"What! How do you know about my father! Only three people know of him, Marielle, Erah, and Cyrus! Now explain... how do you know about him!" Tielle was seething with rage.

Timothy crept out of bed, cringing in pain. He opened the door a crack, peering out.

"I met him. I'm sorry I didn't tell you this sooner. With everything that's happened recently, I didn't want to trouble you even more." Sergyx replied, resting a hand on her shoulder.

Tielle shoved his hand off of her, glaring at him. She let out a hiss as she cracked her neck.

"If he's alive, then why hasn't he come to see me? Tell me that, hmm?" she spat.

Sergyx just looked at her, a sad and pleading look in his eyes.

"I wish I knew. I only saw him for a moment... when I awoke in this body. After that, I never saw him again." he replied.

Tielle was silent, still having trouble accepting that her father still lived. After a long and awkward silence, she finally spoke.

"I'd like to be alone, now" she growled.

"As you wish, master." Sergyx replied, once again in a sarcastic tone.

"Just get the hell out of here!" Tielle snapped.

Sergyx shrugged and walked off. Once he was gone, Tielle turned her attention towards Timothy.

"Didn't anyone tell you it's rude to eavesdrop on other people's conversations?" she asked, a scowl on her face.

Tim immediately slammed the door shut, scared for his life. Despite it being locked, Tielle tore it open with ease, walking inside. She laughed at seeing Tim huddled in a ball, cowering in fear. She smiled, calming down a bit.

"At least someone around here knows their place." she sighed, sitting down next to him.

Tim tightened up, unsure of whether to run or stay where he was. Tielle put a hand on his shoulder, letting out a sigh.

"Calm down, I'm not going to hurt you. I've done enough of that already. I'm sure you heard enough to figure out why I'm upset." she groaned.

"Your..." Tim hesitated a while, making sure Tielle wouldn't have another meltdown.

"Yes, my father..." she groaned, not letting him finish.

"It must have been tough... when you thought he died..." Tim replied.

"It was... He was an amazing man. He saved all of humanity with the help of my mother. I thought he died fighting that demon... I was too young to remember, but my mother told me the news..."

"I'm sorry... Is.... is there anything I can do?" Tim asked hesitantly.

"I wish there was. Right now we have to focus on getting Mina out of here and to safety. I can figure out more about my father later... when we have more time to think." Tielle sighed.

"Yea... I hope you find him soon..." Tim said, putting a hand on her shoulder.

"Well... you really are good at calming the nerves... that's for sure." Tielle replied.

"I guess I am. I don't know..." Tim replied with a blush.

"You really are... you care about people. That's why I have such a good feeling about you. I know you'll stand by my daughter no matter what happens. I... I feel like she'll be safe with you." Tielle smiled, a tear rolling down her cheek.

Tim was a bit shocked. He wasn't expecting her to open up so much to him and so soon. It was a good kind of shock though, knowing he had her approval. Tielle stood up, ruffling Tim's hair as she did.

"Thanks for the help, dear. I'll send Mina down if you'd like. You look like you could use the company." Tielle smiled.

"I wouldn't want to bother her if she's already asleep..." Tim began.

"You and I both know she's up worried about your health. I daresay I went a little too hard on you before." Tielle said with a laugh, walking out the door.

Timothy laid down on the bed for a while, wondering what the rest of Mina's family was like. He thought back to what Tielle had said about relocating, and finally seeing her sister again. His thoughts were interrupted by a light knock on the door.

"Come in." Tim sighed, looking over at the door.

Mina stepped inside, dressed in a crimson gown. She gave Tim a smile as she walked over to him.

"Feeling any better?" she asked, sitting down at the edge of the bed.

"Starting to. Still really sore though." Tim groaned.

"Let me help." Mina said with a smile as she began rubbing his feet.

"Thanks... So, you've been in this castle almost all of your life, right? Have you met any of your relatives outside of your parents?" Tim asked.

Mina shook her head, now working her hands up Tim's calves.

"So you really don't know anyone outside this castle... No wonder you wanted to go outside so badly." Tim sighed.

"We're leaving tomorrow though, that's what mother told me. I'll finally get to see the outside world, if only for a little while." Mina smiled with excitement.

"Yea, you'll finally get what you always wanted... I just wish it were for different reasons." Tim sighed.

"I know... so do I..." Mina replied, eyes darting to the floor. A small tear rolled down her cheek.

"What's wrong?" Tim asked, putting a hand on her shoulder.

"I... I'm scared... I don't want to be taken away... I want to stay right here... with you..." she said, trembling as tiny rivers of tears began to pour down her face.

Tim pulled her close, Mina burying her face in his shoulder. He stroked her hair as she cried, holding her tight.

"It'll be okay. I'm here for you... I'll make sure nothing happens. I promise." he said with a smile, a tear coming to his eye.

In that moment, it was as though time stood still, their bodies unmoving for what seemed like an eternity, their hearts beating as one. At that very moment, Tim knew she was the one, she was his princess, and soon would be his queen, and he would do everything in his power to keep her safe.

At long last, the tears stopped. Mina went limp in his arms, passing out from exhaustion. Lifting her into his arms, he gave her a gentle kiss on the forehead good night, and curled up on the floor. Tossing and turning, he tried to get to sleep. It was a long day, Tim restlessly waking up every few hours.

Nightfall finally arrived, a cool wind blowing through the castle. The halls were bustling with Mina's servants hastily preparing for her departure. As Tim awoke, he saw Tielle standing in the doorway.

"Good, you're awake. It's time we should be leaving." she said sternly, still sour from the previous night.

Tim groaned as he got up, his body still sore. He gave Mina a gentle nudge, waking her.

"Time to go." he said with a smile, helping her get out of bed. She grogily followed him, tipping and swaying as she walked. Finally making it to the front gates, there were two carriages awaiting them. Byron was at the reigns of one, Sergyx at the other. Tielle poked her head out of one of the carriages, looking over at Tim.

"I hope you don't mind cramped spaces. I want you to stay by my daughter's side the entire way. Should anything happen to her, it's on your head."

With that warning, Tielle slipped back into the carriage. Tim ushered Mina inside the other carriage, following close behind her as she climbed in. The carriage was more cramped for space than he had expected. There were no seats, just a single coffin in the center of the carriage. Mina stepped inside, laying down. Looking up at Tim, she patted the tiny patch of velvet next to her. Tim reluctantly climbed in, Mina closing the lid behind him. It was dark, cramped, and the velvety lining of the coffin didn't go far in the way of comfort, but Tim was relieved to be able to spend time with Mina after everything that had happened. She wrapped her arms around him, pulling him close. Still groggy from her lack of sleep, she quickly fell asleep again, burying her face in Tim's shoulder. He couldn't help but laugh, the soft smile on Mina's face warming his heart. He felt the carriage start to move, his body jolting and jostling with each bump. The velvety cushions did little in the way of absorbing the blows of being tossed around the tiny coffin, but the cramped space at least made things a little more bearable. He held Mina close, trying to keep her from bouncing around too much.

He felt the carriage start to slow, eventually coming to a stop. Tim hesitated a moment, they most certainly didn't reach their destination, not after such short a time. He wondered what was going on. As he reached up to open the lid to the coffin, Tielle's warning rang out in his mind. Rubbing his aching body, he remembered the pain she could cause just by toying with him, and would rather not test how much worse it would be if she really were giving it her all. The air was dead silent, not even the rustling of leaves could be heard. Anxiety and nervousness built up within Tim, something was definitely wrong. A loud bang suddenly echoed through the carriage, making Tim nearly jump out of the coffin in surprise. The carriage took off, an occasional blast echoing from behind. Tim slid from side to side as the carriage turned erratically, motion sickness starting to set in. Despite all the chaos going on around them, Mina lay in a perfectly peaceful slumber, a gentle smile still adorning her face as she lightly wrapped her arms around Tim.

After what felt like days, the hellish ride finally came to an end. As the carriage came to a halt, Tim could hear the crunching of snow underfoot outside the carriage.

"You can come out now." Byron called, giving a light knock on the lid of the coffin.

As Tim lifted the lid, a gust of frigid air blew inside the coffin. He quickly shut the lid, trying to keep in what little warmth was left. It was too cold for him, nothing would make him budge from the warmth inside the coffin, or so he thought. The lid was suddenly torn off, cast aside as though it were nothing more than a plank of wood, Tielle standing over him.

"Out." she sighed, pulling Tim to his feet.

Mina finally awoke, rubbing her eyes as she climbed out of the Coffin. As they stepped outside the carriage, they were greeted by an endless span of snow and ice, a single colossal tower looming before them. The large oak doors to the tower creaked open as they approached, inviting them inside. Tielle couldn't help but laugh as she led the group through the front door.

"You haven't changed one bit, have you?" Tielle called out.

The torches lining the walls suddenly burst to life, illuminating the massive spiral staircase running up along the wall of the tower. A young woman came flying down the stairs, her long black hair flowing down behind her. Reaching the foot of the stairs, she wrapped her arms around Tielle, pulling her close.

"I've missed you so much! Why do you never come to visit? We've so much to catch up on, don't we... What of that boy, Cyrus was it? Don't tell me you grew bored of him..."

"Stop, we'll catch up later!" Tielle hissed in embarrassment, desperately trying to pry her sister off of her.

"Of course, you still have to introduce me to this lot!" Erah laughed, finally letting go of her sister.

Looking over the group, Erah's eyes were immediately drawn to Tim. A grin crept across her face as she looked him over.

"Don't tell me he's your new toy, sister. I didn't think he'd be your type." Erah giggled, approaching Tim.

"He's not mine, he's my daughter's." Tielle replied.

Erah stopped in her tracks, eyes wide with shock. Whipping around to face Tielle again, she started to pout.

"Why didn't you tell me? I'm your own sister, I have a right to know!" Erah whined.

"You are such a child, you know that? It needed to stay a secret. She is of my own flesh and blood, a true heir to my throne. It was for her safety." Tielle sighed.

Erah looked at Mina, then back at Tielle. A subtle grin pursed her lips as she began to speak.

"Fascinating. The dead bringing forth new life, what a wondrous concept. I'd like to try a few..."

"We are your guests, not tests subjects. Don't let your research go to your head." Tielle snapped.

"Fine, and what of your other companions?" Erah inquired, turning her attention back towards the rest of the group.

Sergyx looked her over, a curious look in his eyes. He examined her long coat, noticing traces of white chalk and other powders on her sleeves, as well as on Tielle's cloak where Erah's hands had been.

"We can do introductions later. I'd like to have a word with you, in private." Tielle said, stretching her back.

"Yes, of course. Allow me to show you to your rooms." Erah replied, turning towards the wall.

She put her hand against the wall, feeling around for a moment. Finding a loose stone, she pushed it in slightly. Part of the wall slid away, revealing the entrance to a small corridor lined with doors.

"Feel free to take whichever rooms you like. Now, if you'll excuse us." Erah said with a smile, turning back towards her sister.

Before leaving, Tielle glanced over at Tim and Mina.

"Save a bed for me. I'd like to stay in the same room as you two." she said with a smirk, heading up the stairs.

Tim and Mina walked down the hall, admiring the elaborate and lavishly furnished guest rooms. Letting out a sigh, Mina walked into the last room on the left and immediately collapsed on the bed. Tim walked over and took a seat next to her, running a hand through her hair.

"You've been awfully tired lately, is everything alright?" Tim asked, gently scratching the base of her neck.

"I've just been feeling off lately. I'm just exhausted all the time, physically and mentally drained. I don't get it, I've been eating and drinking just fine, but I just keep getting worse and worse..." Mina sighed.

Tim started running his hands down her back, giving her a soothing massage. He leaned in close to whisper in her ear.

"I'm sure it's nothing to be too worried about. I'll ask Tielle about it when she gets back." Tim whispered, giving her a gentle kiss on the back of her neck.

"I guess, but what if it's..."

Before she could finish, Mina's body went limp as she slipped out of consciousness. Tim gently shook her a little, trying to snap her out of it.

"Mina? Are you alright?" he asked, starting to shake harder.

There was still no response. She simply laid there, unmoving. It was almost as though she were dead. He started shaking her harder and harder, hoping it would wake her up, but it was to no avail. No matter what he tried, nothing seemed to work. Giving up all hope, he fell to his knees, sobbing as he feared the worst. He slowly rose to his feet, drying his eyes. Shoving open the door, he sprinted down the hall back towards the staircase. He stormed up the stairs as fast as his feet would carry him, eyes locked on the door at the top of the stairs. As he headed for the door, he could hear muffled voices coming from the other room. Reaching the door, he nearly kicked it down as he barged inside. Startled by the loud intrusion, Tielle and Erah quickly turned a glaring eye towards Tim.

"Tim, what is the meaning of this? We're in the middle of a private conversation!" Tielle snapped.

"Mina's collapsed! She won't wake up!"

Tielle froze, at a complete loss for words. She simply grabbed Tim by the arm, dragging him along as she stormed down the stairs. Bursting through the door to their room, Tielle ran to her daughter's side. Kneeling over her, she put an ear to her chest.

"She's still breathing, but it's faint. She's gone into some kind of stasis to regain her strength, but as to why, I haven't the slightest clue." Tielle said, standing straight again.

"She's been really tired lately. Maybe she's not getting enough sleep." Tim suggested with a shrug.

"This isn't some kind of power nap, something is seriously weakening her! Tim, I want you to take her to my mother's chateau. It's not far, just a little ways north of here. I'm sure she'll know what to do." Tielle groaned.

"You can't be serious..." Erah began

"And why wouldn't I be? I've made my descision, they're going!" Tielle yelled.

The room fell deathly silent, Tim's heart racing with fear. He looked at Mina, then at Tielle, then back at Mina again.

"Well, what are you waiting for, Tim? Get moving!" Tielle snapped impatiently.

Sitting Mina up, Tim hoisted her onto his back. Steadying his balance, he walked out of the room and down the hallway. He hurried out the front door and into the freezing cold. Turning to the north, he could just make out the shadow of a chateau on the horizon. Approaching the two oak doors, Tim hesitantly took hold of the gold ring hanging from the door, his body covered in ice and snow. The door creaked open under his weight, Tim nearly falling as he stumbled inside. He sat Mina against the wall and closed the door. He took a minute to rest, warming himself up as he looked around the foyer. Thick layers of dust covered everything in sight, as though the place hadn't been touched in years. Tattered tapestries cascaded down the walls like scarlet waterfalls, their color faded almost to gray under the mountains of dust. Having regained his strength, Tim hoisted Mina back up on his shoulders and walked down the long corridor. A small door on the left of the hall was slightly ajar. As he peered inside, he found that the chateau wasn't as abandoned as it first seemed.

The door opened to reveal a small study. Book cases wrapped around the circular room, towering over the small desk at its center. Behind the book covered desk was a small girl. Her face was hidden beneath her wide brimmed witch's hat and the cover of the large compendium she was reading. With each nod of her head, the black hat threatened to drop to the floor.

"You sure took your time coming here." the girl groaned, still immersed in her book.

"I'm looking for Tielle's mother. Do you know where I can find her?" Tim asked.

"You're speaking with her. Besides, I already heard the news about Mina's situation. Lay her down on the desk for me." the girl said, clearing a space on the desk.

Tim did as he was told, silently putting Mina down. Taking a step back, he looked at the girl again, watching as she studied Mina for a moment.

"I think I know what caused this. It's rather simple really, but I'm going to need your help for a moment. Come here." the girl continued, beckoning Tim with her hand.

As he approached, she grabbed him by the wrist, suddenly yanking his hand towards her. Without warning, she grabbed a small blade from the nearby table, guiding it across his palm.

"What are you doing!?" Tim cried out in pain.

"Watch." she replied, moving Tim's now bleeding hand over Mina's mouth.

Tim watched as his blood ran down the corner of Mina's lips. He felt her breath on his open wound as her lips began to part. It wasn't long before Tim began to cringe, surprised at the stinging sensation of Mina's tongue nestling into his open wound. Noticing her eyelids flutter a little, Tim continued to let her feed, hoping it would revive her. Letting out a soft moan, she turned her head away from his hand. With that, she pulled her knees to her chest, continuing her slumber.

"Well, its a start at least." the girl sighed, closing her book.

"It didn't work? How long is she going to be like this? What if she never wakes up?" Tim groaned, holding his head in his hands.

"Give her some time. She's just starting to make the shift towards her vampiric nature. The little known fact about half breeds is they can't choose which life they wish to lead. They must gain sustenance from both ways of life, the cooked flesh of animals, as well as the blood of mortals. She must live bound to both ways of life, which is why she is this condition now." the girl replied.

"I hope she wakes up soon..." Tim sighed.

"As do I, she is my granddaughter after all." The girl said.

Tielle sat on her bed, staring at the empty and disheveled bed Mina had been sleeping on. Her eyes were red and swollen, tears still running down her cheeks. Her body heaved and trembled with each heavy breath, depression and despair overwhelming her. She was so distracted by her thoughts she didn't even notice the door slowly creak open.

"Well hello there kitten. I wasn't expecting to see you here." a voice gently echoed from the doorway.

Tielle looked up to see a gallant gentleman standing in the doorway. His black vest and velvet pants were immaculately pressed, not a wrinkle to be found. His dark salt and pepper hair was slicked back, bringing out the red in his eyes.

"Valdier, what are you even doing here?" Tielle groaned.

"I actually came looking for someone else, but I suppose you knew that already." he replied.

"And if I wasn't so distraught, your head would already be rolling across the floor, but you probably knew as much, didn't you?" Tielle growled.

"My, you haven't changed a bit..." he said wistfully.

"I've threatened your life many times, haven't I... I suppose I haven't changed much in that regard then, no. Perhaps I would if you'd stop giving me reason to kill you." she sighed.

"Point taken, but you really wouldn't go through with it. I know you far to well." he replied with a light chuckle.

"You not only revealed my daughter's existance to every power hungry bastard in the region, but you even had the nerve to come and try to claim her for yourself! Do you really think I won't kill you, let alone enjoy every damned second of it?" She shrieked, baring her fangs.

"You'd never kill and old flame, would you?" He laughed.

"The only flame I had in mind when thinking of you is the one that would eventually be burning you on the pyre. So what the hell do you want?" she snapped.

"You know what I came for, so where is she?" Valdier said calmly with a cheery smile.

Seeing the smug expression on his face, the way he so nonchalantly regarded the topic of abducting her daughter, threatening her safety, she could no longer control herself. She tackled him to the ground, hands tightly gripping his throat.

"Calm down kitten, you know the other lords would have killed you both by now." Valdier wheezed.

"Do I look like I care what the others would have done? Stay away from my daughter!" She hissed.

"And what of the boy? He's quite an easy target...being mortal and all..."

Tielle's eyes shot open, her rage further consuming her.

"You wouldn't dare!"

"Oh wouldn't I now? Let's make a game of this, shall we? Should the boy live to see her wedding day, I'll leave your lives forever. It's either that, or I kill the boy and take your daughter for myself." Valdier said with a smirk.

"And if I just kill you now?" Tielle spat.

"Well, I have someone keeping an eye on those two lovebirds as we speak. You kill me, I kill them." He replied with a grim smile.

"You bastard... it would seem I have no other choice than to play along. Fine, but I promise you this, should you lay a hand on either of them..." Tielle growled, seething with rage.

"You have nothing to fear, kitten. I will simply sit back and watch. I'm sure the other lords want their chance at the throne of your massive empire." Valdier laughed.

Tielle let go of Valdier, rising to her feet. Taking a seat on her bed, she simply glared at him from a distance.

"Are you quite finished? Or are you going to waste even more of my time." Tielle sighed.

"Well, there is one more thing... one among you can not be trusted." he replied.

"You're lying." She snapped.

"Oh, no, I'm quite serious. How else do you think I was able to keep tabs on you so well after you left, hmm? I'm sure the answer should be quite obvious, kitten. I needed spies before, but now... I'll leave the rest up to you." Valdier laughed as he walked out the door, closing it behind him.

Overwhelmed with fear and anguish, Tielle buried her face into her pillow, heavy sobs resounding through the halls of the castle. Everything that had happened just proved too much for her to bear.

"I knew she was still bitter about not becoming the heir to the throne, but to stoop to something like this..." she mumbled, face still buried in her pillow.

Her sorrow soon turned to rage as she dwelled more and more on her sister's actions, and the danger they put her child in. Fists clenched shut, tightly gripping the bedsheets, Tielle screamed into her pillow, unable to contain the maelstrom of rage and sorrow welling up within her. Taking a few deep breaths, she made up her mind. Rolling out of bed, Tielle made her way up the long winding staircase, quietly slipping into Erah's study. She watched as her sister fiddled with her potions, grabbing herbs and other components scattered across the desk.

"What did he promise you?" Tielle sighed, leaning against the door frame.

Erah whipped around to face her sister, startled at her presence.

"What do you mean by that?" she asked in reply.

"You know full well what I mean. What did Valdier promise you in return for leading him to my daughter?" Tielle snapped, losing her patience.

"I thought I told him to wait, that damned fool..."

"We both know patience wasn't one of his virtues, nor honesty..." Tielle scoffed.

"It isn't fair, you've always gotten things your way. Fathe left you the majority of the empire, even though I'm the eldest. Damn it Tielle, you're not even a pure blood! This empire is rightfully mine, and I simply want what is due to me." Erah yelled.

"You didn't inherit this empire because you simply waited for it to fall into your lap, you spoiled wretch. Besides, did you really think that selfish bastard would keep his word? His empty words are no more than a means to an end. He won't get a chance to make good on his word to you, I'll make sure of that.

"I would have killed him myself had he betrayed me..." Erah growled.

Tielle simply took a few step towards her, determined to do everything in her power to protect her daughter's well being. She shook her head in disapproval as she walked.

"No, you wouldn't have..." she sighed.

A subtle grin flashed across Tielle's face as she plunged her hand into her sister's chest. She watched as Erah's body went limp, falling to a heap on the floor. Tielle stared at her fallen sibling, tears running down her cheeks as she fell to her knees.

"You brought this on yourself... why did you have to do something so stupid!" she wailed, slamming her fist into the ground.

"When will this bloodshed stop..." Sergyx sighed, putting a hand on her shoulder.

Tielle jumped at his touch, yet kept her eyes fixed on the stone floor beneath her feet.

"I did what I had to do to protect my child..." she groaned.

"You don't give them enough credit, Tielle. They can handle themselves better than you think, especially the boy. He's got potential." Sergyx replied.

"I suppose you're right, but against every one of my enemies they stand no chance. They need my protection, they need my help..."

"But must it always end like this? Must it always end in bloodshed? You've never been one to simply kill to accomplish your goals. You're walking a dangerous path, Tielle. A taste for death and destruction is the hardest of all to purge from your mind. Your enemies are proof of that. Do you really want people to see you as nothing more than a ruthless killer, leading all who oppose you to the slaughter?" Sergyx replied, deep concern in his voice.

"If that's where this leads than so be it! Most consider my a horrible monstrosity, a bringer of death and decay simply for what I am, so why not give them what they so readily desire!" Tielle snapped.

"You've never been one to let others tell you who to be, and I'm not about to let you start now. If Cyrus were still alive, I doubt he would approve of you acting like..."

"How dare you tell me what Cyrus would or would not approve of! Who are you to even judge such a thing, considering you only know of him from what I've told you! If he were still alive I'm sure he..." Tielle's voice trailed off, her sudden bout of rage subsiding.

"...he'd be absolutely horrified... he'd hate me..." she continued as she began to tremble.

"I don't think he'd ever be able to hate you. He'd be disappointed, yes, but he wouldn't hate you. He'd help you through all this, I'm sure of it." Sergyx replied, putting a hand on her shoulder.

"But he's not here, and I'm at my wits end. I've played out every possible option and there seems to be absolutely nothing I can do to protect either of them. My enemies are far too great in number to handle alone..."

"You're not alone. You have myself, Byron, your mother, even Tim at your side, not to mention whole armies under your control. Even Cyrus is still with you. He's never left your heart, despite all that's happened." Sergyx replied, kneeling down next to her.

"I suppose you're right... but still... I do miss him... now more so than ever." Tielle sighed, a tear trickling down her cheek.

"I know... but he'll always be there for you, even in death." Sergyx said with a bittersweet smile.

The room fell quiet, Tielle's heavy breaths being the only sound to be heard. Her eyes remained fixed on the ground below, tears dripping from her cheeks. She sat nearly motionless, her body quivering with each breath. She clenched her fists, gripping the edge of her dress, wringing the fabric in her hands.

"Sergyx... what I am about to ask you... never leaves this room..." she sighed.

"Anything you wish." he replied, wanting to do whatever he could to help in her time of need.

"...hold me..." she muttered.

Wrapping his arms around her, he pulled Tielle close to him. He gently caressed her back as she sobbed, burying her face into his shoulder, finally letting out years of pain and sadness. Her sobs quickly became moans, and moans became wails as the resurfacing emotional pain and trauma became harder and harder to bear. Barely able to even speak amidst her cries of sorrow, Tielle shakily began to force words from her unwilling lips.

"What... what is there to do... Everything seems so hopeless..."

"I'm sure things will get better once Mina awakens. Valdier wants her alive, since the only way he can steal the throne is to either kill you both, or force her into marriage. He's at a standstill now, as long as she sleeps his plan is forcibly on hold. Besides, she's in love with Tim, and Mina can't possibly marry two people, right?" Sergyx replied with a smirk.

Tielle stopped crying, mind suddenly racing into action once more. She was nearly kicking herself for not thinking of such a solution before. Looking up at Sergyx for the first time since he entered the room, she gave him a smirk, eyes still wet with tears.

"Brilliant... Accelerate their relationship before Valdier even has a chance to strike... Hold the fort, I have some business to take care of regarding those two." Tielle laughed, rushing out of the room.

Tim sat by Mina's side, every few hours reopening his wound to give her blood. Each time he hoped and prayed would be the time she finally woke up, but to no avail. Not once did he leave he side, depriving himself of even sleep to make sure she was regularly fed. It was clear that Tim was far from well, doting on Mina to the point where he did nothing to care for himself. He was pale, the frequent loss of blood slowly taking its toll, and his starving of himself not helping matters.

The door slowly creaked open as Marielle walked into the room. She gave him a stern look as she looked him over.

"Tim, when's the last time you ate something?" she asked, putting a hand against his neck to check his pulse.

"I don't know... don't worry about it, I'll be fine." he replied, briefly turning his attention away from Mina just long enough to reply.

"I don't know isn't good enough, Tim. You're eating something." she groaned, shaking her head.

"It's okay, don't trouble yourself. I'll be fine."

"No, you won't be fine, especially if you keep on like this. I'm making you something to eat, and then I'm separating you two for a few hours so you can at least get some sleep in the interim!" Marielle snapped, her maternal nature kicking in full force.

She walked out of the room, closing the door behind her. Tim turned his full attention back towards Mina, looking down at her as she slept. Letting out a heavy sigh, he laid down next to her. Shaking his head in disbelief, he thought back on everything they had been through.

"This is all my fault. Not only can't I protect you, but I'm the cause of all this. If only I hadn't taken you outside. I should have listened to Byron when I had the chance, but now I don't even know if you'll ever wake up. What if you don't wake up, and even if you do, everywhere you go you'll be in danger. Dammit all, how could I have been so stupid!"

Tim slammed his fist against the wall, frustrated and angry at his own incompetence, his own shortcomings that led to Mina's situation. Looking down at Mina again, he grabbed the knife from the table again and opened the wound on his palm, pressing his hand to Mina's lips. He watched her intently, almost as though he were attempting to will her back into consciousness. The blood loss was finally starting to get the better of him, his vision starting to blur. Marielle returned to the room just in time to catch Tim before he collapsed from blood loss. Holding his head up, she poured a tall goblet of water down his throat.

"I told you to take it easy. I don't plan on nursing both of you back to health. Now eat before I have to force it into you." she sighed, breaking off a small piece of bread from the loaf she brought, placing it in Tim's mouth.

"I'll be fine. Just let me..."

"No, just eat and get some rest. You're done here Tim. I'll take care of her, don't worry." Marielle groaned, still a little shocked Tim let himself go this far.

"I need to make this right. I've done nothing but cause her trouble, it's my fault things have come to this. I can't even protect her dammit..." he sighed.

"Focus only on your shortcomings and you'll never achieve anything. You'll just put yourself down before you try. You've made her happier than she's ever been the way I hear it.

"If only I hadn't taken her outside... If I'd just..."

"Tim, stop. You can't turn back time. What's done is done, and all you can do now is move forward. Do what you can for her, but don't over exert yourself. It'd tear her apart if you went and died on her now." Marielle sighed.

"I guess you're right..." Time groaned.

A loud crash echoed through the room as the door slammed open. A young woman dressed in full plate mail stood in the doorway, a lance gripped firmly in her hand. She had numerous holy symbols hanging from her neck, and a long sword in the shape of a cross.

"Hand over the girl." the woman sternly commanded.

Tim and Marielle simply stared in shock for a moment, still taken aback by the sudden intrusion. Composing herself, Marielle rose to her feet.

"And who might you be?" she asked, rather calmly considering the circumstances.

"Just give me the girl. I'd prefer it if I wasn't forced to hurt you." she replied.

"No, I won't let you..."

Before he could even finish his thought, Tim found himself pinned against the wall, sword at his throat. The woman simply gave him a smug grin, looking him dead in the eyes.

"I hope you'll reconsider...." the woman laughed, releasing him.

"Who are you working for I wonder... you're obviously a mercenary, and a well paid one at that. You've come over prepared, as though you were expecting something a bit more dangerous, correct?" Marielle asked with a smirk.

"I never reveal my clients. It's bad for business." the woman replied.

"Very well then. It would seem there's nothing I can do to stop you. Go ahead and take her." Marielle sighed.

"You can't be serious, you're just going to let her take Mina!?" Tim yelled in an outrage.

"We're powerless against her as is. You're not nearly experienced enough to hold her off while I prepare any kind of spells. I'm sorry Tim." Marielle sighed.

As the woman lifted Mina over her shoulder, Marielle grabbed hold of one of Mina's stockings, letting it slide off as the woman took Mina away. The door slammed shut as she left, Tim fuming the whole while.

"Now what the hell are we supposed to do! Not only is she in a comma, but now we don't even know where she is! We'll never find her at this rate." Tim sighed.

"Now that's where you're wrong..." Marielle said with a smile, pulling out a small, contorted flute. She blew into it, but not a sound could be heard.

"Is it broken or something..."

Marielle simply lifted her hand, motioning for Tim to wait. A small wolf pup suddenly burst into the room, jumping up on Marielle's lap. Is started sniffing the stocking, picking up the trail of the scent, and then bolted back out the room as quickly as it came.

"That's how we'll find her." Marielle said with a smirk.

The wolf ran back into the room, tail between its legs and hid behind Marielle. Tielle came storming into the room, a determined look on her face.

"I guess she's not here anymore..." she growled.

"She can't be far. Besides, I knew you'd want a way to find Valdier on top of all this, so now's your chance." Marielle replied with a laugh.

Tielle's face simply hardened with determination and rage.

"Well, what the hell are you two waiting for? Move, we don't want them getting too far away now do we?" she snapped, ushering them out the door.

As Tim and Marielle ran outside to follow the wolf, Tielle summoned a small bat. Looking off into the horizon, she sent it with a small note, watching as it flew towards the rising moon. A storm raged as they stepped outside into the cold, ice and snow blowing every which way around them. If not for the wolf's keen sense of smell, they would have easily gotten lost in the blinding flurries of white. Three shadows began to emerge behind the snowstorm in the distance. As they drew close, a familiar voice rang out, striking every nerve in Tielle's body with rage and malice.

"Ah, I was wondering when you'd arrive, kitten. I'm sorry to have broken my promise, but I couldn't wait that long. Then again, you probably expected as much." Valdier yelled out from behind the wall of snow.

"You bastard! I swear I'll kill you for this! Now get your damn hands off of my daughter!" Tielle shrieked, marching towards him.

Without warning, one of the shadows fell to the ground, the snow beneath it quickly becoming stained with blood. Tielle's heart nearly jumped into her throat, fearing the worst had happened.

"Come any closer, and it will be your daughter hitting the ground, not some hired help." He growled.

Tielle simply sat in silence, knowing there was nothing she could do. She was powerless, and once again Valdier had outwitted her. Letting out a sigh, she shook her head.

"Fine, I'll stay here. Now what the hell more do you want from me!" she snapped.

"Now send the boy!" Valdier called.

Tim simply froze, unsure of what to do. His entire time with Mina, the ordeals they had both been though, and innevitably the self loathing that came with it suddenly came upon him. He was at a loss. He wanted to help Mina, he wanted to do the right thing, but what he thought was the right thing up until this point had always resulted in doing her harm. Unwilling to trust his own judgement, he simply stood there in thought. Taking a quick glance over at Tielle, he wished he had even a fraction of her determination and courage. She caught his gaze and gave him a slight grin.

"Don't look to me for the answer, boy. You have to make this choice on your own. So long as you don't choose to do nothing, I'll back whichever course of action you take." she said with a laugh.

He had made up his mind. He was going to be with Mina no matter what the cost. He began to walk forward into the storm, making his way towards Valdier. As he approached, he could start making out Valdier more clearly, making his target easier to gauge. As he drew near, Valdier simply smiled.

"Well hello there. Do you know why I called you over here?" He asked cheerfully.

"You need me to wake her for you, right?" Tim asked in reply, a wary eye watching him.

"Wrong, any human would do for that. The reason I need you, Tim, is very very special. You are going to take this, and kill Tielle with it." he smirked, handing Tim an ash stake.

"I won't. There's no way I could kill her!" Tim protested.

"Oh stop being so loyal to the damn bitch! She treats you like dirt and you know it. You despise her, the condescending nature of her games, treating others like her playthings..."

"I still refuse. Even if what you say is true, there's no way I can best her." Tim replied, simply playing along.

"I can give you the power you need. Have you ever heard of a blood stone?" Valdier asked.

"No..." Tim replied warily.

"It's a stone that grants it's owner all the powers of a vampire, but without that nasty blood lust. I'll make one especially for you. You've always wanted to be stronger, so you could protect her. I'll give you that chance. All you'd have to do is kill Tielle." Valdier said with a smirk.

Tim stood there in thought, knowing full well this was a trap. The question was, play into the trap in hopes of turning the tables, or risk resistance and hope he could save Mina on his own. Fortunately for Tim, he never had to make that choice. A bloodcurdling war cry echoed from behind Valdier, cutting Tim off before he could utter a reply.

"Get your hands off of my daughter!"

Without warning, Sergyx's hands wrapped around Valdier's throat. Valdier simply looked at him, completely unphased.

"If Tielle can't choke me to death, what makes you think you'll do any better."

"Me!" Tim yelled, driving the stake through Valdier's heart.

Valdier let out a shriek of pain, staggering backwards. As his body dissolved into ash, Mina fell to the ground. Tim ran over to her, lifting her into his arms. A smile crept across his face, relieved she made it through unharmed. Looking off into the distance, he could see Tielle running towards them. Completely bypassing Tim and Mina, she ran directly to Sergyx, grabbing him by the shoulders and giving him a hard shove.

"What do you mean by YOUR daughter!?" She yelled.

"I'm sorry, but your father made me promise not to tell you, but I guess it's too late now..."

"Tell me what, Sergyx? You had better start explaining right now before I lose my temper! You know far too much about me, about my father, about damn near everything! What the hell is going on?"

"Alright, alright... I'd rather not have you kill me, again." Sergyx laughed.

"What do you mean by..."

Tielle stopped speaking, finally realizing who she was speaking to. She almost didn't want to believe it, it had been so long, she'd seen him die by her own hand and now to have him by her side all this time and never even know.

"Cyrus..." she muttered, completely dumbfounded.

He gave her a nod, a smile coming across his face.

"Damn you, boy! Why did you keep this to yourself all this time!? Do you know how much pain you've put me through? You always went out of your way to get on my bad side, but this... I can't even believe you would do such a thing, especially with my daughter in such a state!"

"Calm down, as I told you before, I promised your father I wouldn't say a word. He wanted you to figure it out on your own." he replied.

"And that reminds me, how the hell do you know anything about my father? The last time you brought him up I damn near strangled you to death!" Tielle snapped, her mood foul as ever.

"He was the one who brought me back to life. He created a blood stone from his own life force, and used it to bring me back to life. Unfortunately, I didn't exactly have a body to go back to, so he put me into one of his statues. His dying wish was that I keep my identity a secret until you found out on your own." Cyrus replied.

"We're going to have a long, long talk when we get home." Tielle growled.

"Yes master." Cyrus replied with his usual sarcastic tone.

"Sorry to interrupt, but Mina's still out cold." Tim yelled, just trying to be heard over Tielle's ranting.

"You've got a perfectly good source of blood right there, but that won't do you any good. Valdier didn't need you to wake her up. Those spies he sent to the castle were laced with poison. The second she made contact with one, the poison slowly ran its course. Of course, poison can't kill what's already dead, so it just knocked her out. The good news about having a new identity, it makes spying on your enemies so much easier." Cyrus laughed.

"That doesn't help me at all, actually that just makes things worse!" Tim yelled.

"What, you were expecting me to tell you how to cure her too? Not making things that easy for you. According to your own words, you did this. So, logically, it's your job to fix it. I'm just glad Valdier was a hopeless romantic. It made him so predictable sometimes." Cyrus sighed.

Tim simply knelt there, stunned. He leaned in towards Mina, holding her close. His heart raced, hoping what he was about to do would work. Closing his eyes, he kissed her. It didn't seem to have much effect, that is, until Mina suddenly bit down on his tongue. Yelping in pain, Tim pulled away, his now bleeding tongue throbbing in pain. Looking down at Mina, her eyes began to flutter as she let out a soft moan. With a yawn, she stretched her back, opening her eyes.

"Why am I so cold..." she groaned sleepily.

"Mina, I'm so glad you're alright!" Tim said with a smile, throwing his arms around her.

"Well, now that this is all behind us, I say it's time we all go home and celebrate!" Cyrus said with a laugh.

"No, they'll be celebrating. We still have some unfinished business to attend to." Tielle growled, a sinister grin creeping across that face.

"I'm in trouble, aren't I?" Cyrus sighed.

Tielle simply nodded her head, laughing under her breath.

"I love it when you're mad, you know that?" Cyrus said with a laugh.

"Does this mean we can finally go back home, where it's warm?" Tim asked.

"Yes, it does. You should probably stay here until the storm blows over though. Come, let's go back to my chateau." Marielle sighed.

With the current threat gone, the group walked back to the chateau to weather the storm, living their lives in peace until the next maelstrom would threaten their peaceful existence.