Death's Tomb

The night has fallen over the Land of Dawn. Creatures from shadows are slowly crawling out of their pits and creatures of light are closing themselves in their homes. When life goes to sleep, death arrives but its carrier has been sealed away in the Dungeon of thousand tears.

The necromacer could bring people's souls into afterlife even while they were alive creating empty shadows and bodies that were just empty shells, without guts, without mind.

For sake of people, she was cursed and sent in the deepest parts of mountain Kar'a Rok where she was chained in chains and cursed to never be able to break them. The longer time passed, the stronger the curse was. The only way for she to get out was to reverse time to when her powers could outpower the curse.

The door of her dungeon were opened by only one person. A man who was chosen to guard her. At first, he was just a poor abandoned child so nobody cated for him but the more time he spent with her, the more corrupted he became. The longer it went on, the less people remembered about her. After years and years, he developed love for the cursed necromancer that world didn't know existed any more, and with that, his current form, form of a monster, was cut into his soul.

Vexana, that was her name, the deadly name that was echoing through the long tunnels leading to her dungeon. Moskov was finally entering with a happy expression, step by step, carefully not to slip and break the bottle with tears of the past.

He had passed so much trouble, he was kick out of Argus' hideout, all because of the bottle. Because of the wish to set the love of his life free again. Once he stood in front of the large stone door, he gazed at two statues, one on each side. They were both representing angels guarding the palce that frok outside looked like a tomb.

The angels would scare off the intruders but Moskov just bravely stepped closer and opened the door. Immediately, a soft femine voice said: "Oh, you're here again. My sweet warrior has brough me a gift? A gift that could get me out of this rotten place? Am I right?" She asked, already feeling the power of curse lessening as he approached.

She had tirquiouse hair and two large dark brown horns. She was as skinny as skeleton and was sitting on her throne, her hands had brown long claws. The rest of the skin was pale blue and around her wrists there were cuffs made of already rusted iron yet as strong as the first day she was locked, many years ago. Her dress was made out of leather that alredy became very dark and with some black fur around her shoulders.

"Yes. I'm here for you. Today I'm not leaving this place without you, my love." Moskov said as he opened the bottle. "What am I to do now that I have what you told me to get?" He asked. "Guide me, my mistress." He asked.

Her grin widdened as she stood up and stepped as close to him as the chains were allowing her. "Pour some liquid on the chain and I will break it. After that, let me feel as what I was before once again by pouring the rest on me." She said getting down on her knees and lowering her head.

The man did as she requested. He poured some on the chains and the rust disappeared for as long as they were still wet. Vexana then used her powers for the first time in several years and summoned two ghosts that flew around her and then crashed into the chains breaking them once forever.

The cuffs were still on her hands but she could move them freely. She kept them as a reminder for all those who would try imprisoning her again. She smiled softly while Moskov was pouring the rest of liquid onto her head.

The parts of her hair that were in touch with the tears became black and straight. Not looking old any more, shining with gleam of youth. Her face would retain its normal colour and her eyes would be like two beautiful hazels surrounded with leaves. She looked beautiful and took two or three deep breaths.

Air around her didn't taste like iron, rust and copper. She felt like a person again but as the tears were sliding down her cheeks, her body returned to normal. She looked montrous once again but she was happy because she had one more chance to see the world as she did before she became what she is now, a necromancer.

She then got up, being as tall as Moskov without counting her thick, disheveled hair and her large horns in her height. They were giving her a scary appearance of might. "Thank you." She said, finally stepping further away from her throne than what her restains used to let her. She jumped into Moskov's arms as he rose her up in the air, holding her tightly.

Once her feet touched the ground again, Moskov leaned in for a kiss, the first one in freedom. She then spoke softly. "You're my hero. You have my promise I will return the favour. Once I reclaim my rightful place in the world, you will be there, by my side. Like you were all the time in the past." She said, her voice slightly cracking.

Her throat was dry as desert. Thanks to her immobility, she hadn't drank anything for just too long. She didn't need it to survive, in the end, she was dead herself yet alive as a horrifying representation of what she was.

He noticed it and said: "Don't worry, my dear, I'll keep taking care of you 'til the day when my last breath leaves my lungs." He took her by her hand and guided her up through the same old and dark corridors to the upper world she needed to discover once again. So much has changed in the meantime...

***

On the other part of the land, inside a gorgeous blue building that looked like a combination of palace and a temple, the moon elf princess was leading two men through a short hallway with several doors. They all looked the same but nevertheless stunning.
"So... Here is the guest room..." Miya said short after she opened one of the doors, the losest one to the window on its left. "There is enough place for you both, don't worry." She said. "I just hope you won't mind the fact the two beds are put together..." She didn't seem the most comfortable doing this.

Hayabusa and Alucard exchanged glances and went silent before Miya started again. "So... The room on the opposide side is bathroom. Feel free to refresh yourself and I hope you'll enjoy your stay..."

Hayabusa then asked something: "Um... And Kagura?"

Miya looked at him not understanding whatcwas he trying to ask. "That's the girl you were with, right? What about her?" She asked scratching the back of her neck.

"Where is she going to sleep?" He asked. "I just thoughr if you put her into--" He started but Miya cut in. "Oh, don't worry. She'll have place in my room." She said.

Alucard's eyes then suddenly lit up with a genious idea. He knew why was Hayabusa asking about her, well, at least he could guess and he didn't want to be the third wheel in the room so he came up with a suggestion: "If you haven't already noticed, these two are a kind of a thing and it'd be very nice of you if you put them in the same room." He said.

"Um, sure but--" Miya started but didn't get to finish her sentance thanks to Alucard who just continued talking. "And I wouldn't mind taking up the space you prepared for her if I have to." He took a step towards her and asked: "What you say?"

Miya slightly blushed and backed away from him. She knew this was a one time chance to possibly live through her fantasies, those she was reading about in the countless books that were scattered around her room. Then again, she didn't want to disappoint her father. She was always a shy girl that simply wasn't doing well with the rest of the people despite her being the princess and a fine warrior, more precise archer, that she is.

She gazed at Alucard once again. Hayabusa was also staring at him open mouthed but he didn't say anything. He was okay with the deal. Miya then scratched the back of her neck. "Okay. Fine." She agreed.

The demon hunter grinned. Maybe she wasn't yet to throw away. He put an arm on his side and the other one on his sheathed sword's handle. He blew the blonde strands of hair off his face trying to act cool in front of a lady and said: "Then lead the way."

Hayabusa facepalmed in the distance watching him but it wasn't important at all, the elf princess was already stuck with self-titled "Prince charming."
Little did any of them know what was going on, just several miles away from the capital of moon elves.

***

Karina, the assassin who was more furious than ever was dragging Lancelot towards a place where she used to go for drinks and to get some bounty hunts going. He was conscious yet could barely keep up with the pace of a very agile elf she was.

She led the way to a building that was mostly covered with moss and build in tree roots. It looked like one with the nature or one that wanted to be hidden from unwelcomed people.

Lancelot didn't even know what to think. She wouldn't talk to him and was dragging him with her only because she had to. She opened the door of the little hut. She looks at all the new faces and makes eye contact with few old ones but her gaze focuses on a girl sitting on a sofa wraped in her gray fur coat. Her scythe was lying next to her also making a support bade to rest her legs on.

Karina walked closer, finally letting go of Lancelot. "Hey, my dear! It's so nice to see you again." She said sitting next to her. "I see you've made yourself another wolf coat, am I right?" She asked.

The girl in red hood additionaly covered in the coat shrugged. "Actually... I made it for my Alu... But he doesn't seem to notice me at all." She said, almost starting to cry. "He held this..." She whispered rubbing the coat. "Tell me... What am I doing wrong? He looks like he's hanging out with other girls far more than me." She said.

Karina put a hand on her friend's shoulder. "You're doing nothing wrong! He is the one who should be sorry!" She said in a reassuring tone while Lancelot was just watching the two. "What's with girls nowdays?" He thought out loud but luckily wasn't heard by the other two.

Ruby looked at Karina with small tear drops in her eyes. "All I've ever wanted was to have him all for myself... Since I met him, that's all I want, that's what I live for." She said before adding: "That... and killing wolves."

Karina grinned. "That's why we're here. Help us get what we want and you'll get what you want." She said. That way, she will be able to get her revenge on Alucard, get the book that made her life go nuts and help her friend, three in one.