We all need hope in this world. Sometimes hope can falter and our courage leave us, but like a Phoenix it can always rise from the ashes. As long as we believe in ourselves and our comrades.

Thoughts from Aster Phoenix.

A member of the Resistance.

Tara Yuki's P.o.v.

Tara sighed deeply while looking up in the ceiling. She knew she had to sleep. It was after all night, even though it was dark 24/7 in this world. However she just couldn't. She sighed ones more and looked up at the ceiling again. The combined ceiling made out of hard cement and wood. She was lying in an old bed, with old sheets and mattress. Beside a bed, she was having a nightstand with a little lamp on, and a closet in here. Tara turned around in bed with small tears shone in her eyes.

"Jaden" she whispered slowly and hid her head under the blanket "I wish you were here".

She squeezed the blanket and used it to wipe her tears away. She couldn't break down now. She had to fight. She knew that was what everyone wanted from her. She was part of 'the Resistance' after all. The rebels who was fighting against Kagemaru and his group. Against Camula! Tara hated the vampire woman. She still remembered how Zane had sacrificed the duel to keep her safe. That he in the end of the duel, told her he loved her, and just couldn't sacrifice her. Instead he sacrificed himself and well before Tara knew it, he was a vampire and was doing everything Camula asked of him. Secondly he had forgotten her as well. Tara had in some way been standing before him, and seen into these distant black/purple eyes, and knew he didn't recognized her. It had hurt Tara so badly, but it also gave her strength to fight. Strength to fight and kick Camula's sorry butt. That she was really longing for. Tara sighed deeply. She wished she had been more of use at that time. She wished she could have done something. Anything! However at the end of the world, as she refer it as, she had been a coward. After the key protectors were defeated and the duel island was in chaos, as well as the world was about to be change, Tara had been saved, along with few people who could be saved. Their father together with Pegasus, had with a helicopter, saved some students from the school. However Jaden.. Tara let out a little cry. They had to leave him behind. Kagemaru had at that time captured some duelists already and Jaden had been one of them. After all he was this ace duelist and former key protector. Jaden had always had this strange power, that made people believe in him. So by capturing him, he could kill most of school's hope or that was what she thought Kagemaru's plan was. She couldn't read his mind after all. After the duel island, Kagemaru ruled the world, and turned the world into what it was right now. Dark and cold. She sighed and got up. She couldn't sleep, so she could at least find something to do. It was better than to daydream about the old days. She walked over to the closet and got dressed. Every member of the resistance, was dressed in dark clothes. It was easier to hide and scout in these clothes. A pair of pants who was easy to move around in. A green t-shirt, a black jacket, gloves and pair of boots. A gray belt with a lot of stuff in it, who could be used in fights. Sadly no duel disk and deck since they were a rare treat to find and only special people had that. However she had some garlic against the vampires on her and a cross in one of the pockets. She had two daggers in her belt as well. The resistance really didn't have that many weapons. Kagemaru had tight security to that. Tara had a feeling he was the only one who had decent weapons out there. Again a sign that he was more superior than they were. Tara sighed and placed her hair in a rubber band. She had shorter hair than she used to in school 7 years ago, but she still like having it a little long. Then she walked down the hallways.

Atticus's p.o.v.

Atticus was running and running. He had to get away. The darkness was all around him, however Atticus didn't care about his surroundings. He needed to get away. He just needed to get away. A laughing voice could be heard in the darkness around him.

"You cannot escape me Atticus" the voice said in a teasing matter. "You and I are the same after all".

Atticus let out a scream and covered his ears. This was not real! This was not real! The teasing voice was laughing once again, and moved closer to him.

"But I am Atticus" it said and grinned evilly "You need me and don't deny it. We are two sides of the same coin after all".

Atticus sneered and stopped surprised up when a shadow was standing in front of him. He knew without a doubt that this was Nightshroud, his alter ego. The shadow changed and was now looking like Atticus. The only difference, was that he was wearing a mask and a black dress code. Nightshroud smiled at him.

"Atticus why are you running away from me?" He said and smirked "You know that is foolish. We are after all one and the same".

Atticus sneered and tried running the other way, but Nightshroud grabbed his wrist in a tight grip, but he still tried getting free.

"Let me go!" He yelled and was fighting like hell "I don't need you. Go away!".

"Oh Atticus you are as clueless as ever" Nightshroud said and grinned "Either that or you are in denial. Have you forgotten what state the world is in? You NEED me!". Atticus stopped fighting by these words. He had stopped up and was staring at the dark ground. Nightshroud had let go of his wrist and smiled a little.

"You need me Atticus. You need my power and the sooner you realizes this, the sooner I can help you" He told the boy and his body was slowly disappearing "I will wait for the day when you accept and uses my powers". Then the shadow disappeared.

Atticus woke up and was gasping for air. Sweat was running down from his forehead. He took some deep breaths and sighed relived. He was back. He was back and he was not Nightshroud any longer. He was Atticus! He was Atticus Rhodes! He shook his head. He was having a tiny headache. He got up from the old couch he had been sleeping on and was rubbing his head a little. A black mask fell down to the ground and Atticus froze. He bowed down and placed it carefully down on the little table in front of him. Then he sighed. Nightshroud had been talking more and more to him lately. He always did it in his dreams, and it gave him nightmares. Always the same.. that he needed him and his power and that he should stop running and accept that he was a part of him. Atticus just couldn't do that. He just couldn't. He sighed again. He was in the resistance clothes, but unlike Tara was having a red t-shirt beneath. His belt and boots were at the floor and table though. He was the only member of the resistance who was actually not having a room on his own, which was funny since the place was an old mansion. There were rooms enough. However Tara's father, the leader of the resistance, Seto Kaiba didn't trust him, mostly because he was a former shadow rider, and denied him access to a proper room. He was sleeping on a couch in the living room, which he had done in a long, long time. However Atticus didn't complain. It was the least he could get punished for, when he did help Kagemaru once. If it wasn't for Jaden, dueling him and free him from Nightshroud's control, then who knows what had happened. Atticus always wondered what kind of life he would have had, and what he came up with was never pleasant things. He owed Jaden his life. It was the whole reason, he was still here, even though he was not treated as a full member by Kaiba. He had to keep his vow to Jaden. He looked down at the chest, where the reminder to that vow was hanging. It was an old medal. It had once belonged to the grave keeper chief, but he had broken it in half, giving Atticus one part (he had been Nightshroud at that time), and Jaden the other. Atticus had given Jaden his half when he fought Camula though, and Jaden had made the medal whole again. However then the dark times happened. Atticus clearly remembered Jaden losing to a shadow rider and in the end got captivated by the boss Kagemaru and his team. Jaden had in his last moments, tossed Atticus the medal and yelled.

"Atticus, I beg you! You are the only one who can use this shadow charm now. Protect my sister! Protect Tara, like you would protect Alexis. Promise me!".

Atticus had nodded and seen Jaden's relieved face before he was taken. Few knew what had happened to Jaden after that. Atticus was didn't know either, but he was also not a member of the resistance. He did however have a feeling his twin Tara knew. She was after all his twin. Atticus sighed again. Sometimes he felt stupid. He was after all staying at a place, where he was low in rank. Almost a servant. He had gotten few jobs here. He was making the food and getting it, which was hard enough in this world now which Kagemaru controlling everything. He was helping people of the resistance with different stuff. Tara always gave him important jobs and was giving in good words to the others about him. The other members were as well. Actually the only one who was a little hard to work with was Kaiba. He could be stubborn and just refused to let Atticus be a member. Alexis was not happy about how he was treated and actually decided to leave the resistance to look for Jaden and free him. She even asked Atticus to join her, but he refused. He wanted to help them, even though he was poorly treated by the leader. He hoped that in the future it would change. He touched the mask and it transformed into a card, then he took his boots and other stuff on and looked at the clock. It was almost morning. Since he couldn't sleep any longer, he might as well begin with his chores. He walked down towards the kitchen.

Tara's p.o.v.

Tara lifted her hand and then dropped it again. She did that a couple of times. She was standing in front of a door to someone's room, and couldn't decide if she should knock or not. They had told her that she could visit, if she ever needed help or just needed a nice talk. However Tara still hesitated. It was seriously early in the morning after all. It was rude after all. She lifted her hand again. However she really needed a talk right now. She sighed and was about to knock, when the door opened. A blue long haired male was standing at the doorstep, and he was smiling at her.

"Tara, I had a feeling you would arrive soon" He said.

"Sartorius" Tara said and bit her lip "I am sorry to disturb you so early in the morning, but I need your guidance. You said I could visit if I needed an advice".

"Of course, come on in Tara" He said and moved so she could get in "I had a feeling you would arrive sooner or later". Tara looked at him and placed herself at the table. She had been in here a couple of times already.

"Because you foresaw it?" She questioned. Sartorius smiled a little.

"Nope, it is pure knowledge. You have been so distant lately" He replied "Want something to drink? Tea, coffee? I got Aster to bring me some from the black marked, for a cheap price the other day". Tara smiled.

"A cup of tea if it is okay" she said "It is not something you just can get after all".

"Ah don't worry, eating and drinking something together is the joy of living" Sartorius said and walked over and heated some water in a kettle.

He had a little kitchenette in here. Besides that, there were two beds in here, some couple of chairs and the table. Tara knew bathrooms was down the hallways. Tara looked around.

"Is Sarina not in here?" She then asked. Sartorius had just placed to cups at the kitchen desk and was pouring water in them, together with the tea.

"Not yet, she is with your father" He said and walked over to her with the tea "At the command central. Something with that move the headquarter quicker. Instead of waiting a couple of months, before moving".

Tara nodded a little. They had been talking about that for a long time now. Sartorius placed himself in a chair in front of her. He tilted his head a little and looked closely at her.

"You don't look happy about that Tara" He questioned "You know the risk of staying to long at one place after all. Kagemaru and his follower could find us. The mansion Aster had in disposal is the only place we can be fully safe. All thanks to your father and my sister". Tara sighed. She knew all that. However she was tired of hiding.

"So let me guess, your problem has something to do with that we are currently in Asia right?" Sartorius said slowly "Near him and Camula's castle, as well as flock of vampires". Tara sighed deeply. It always surprised her how observant Sartorius could be. With or without his tarot cards. She slowly nodded a little.

"Oh love, the most mysterious force in the world" Sartorius said and sighed. Tara turned a little red by that. She knew, that he knew, that she still was in love with a certain vampire now. He had known that for quite a while now.

"So you seek my full guidance or only my advice?" He asked slowly and placed his tarot cards beside him on the table "After all, everything can't be predicted. You chose yourself on what to do". Tara sighed a little.

"I.. I actually want a full checkup. You see there is more than love related things in my life" She said quickly. Sartorius chuckled a little and took the tarot cards into his hands and began to shuffle.

"Beside that the world is at doom right now?" He said and smiled "Wanna tell me, or gonna let the tarot cards tell that for me?". Tara bit her lip a little.

"Jaden" she whispered a little. Sartorius closed his eyes for a minute.

"I pretend I didn't hear that" He then said "Your father don't want you to dwell too much on him, and will certainly not like if I ever encourages you towards him".

"Then please don't tell father this" Tara said and looked at him with puppy eyes "This is really important to me Sartorius". The fortuneteller sighed.

"Hmm I just can't turn you down now can I" He said and gave her the cards "Pick 5 and placed them at the table, in any order you like".

Tara nodded and did as he said. She placed 5 cards facedown. One in the middle and the other 4 around it. Sartorius took the cards back and pointed at the respective cards on the table. He asked how many cards he should place on then. The number turned out like this. Two piles with 5 cards, one with three, one with two and lastly one with 1 on it. He placed the cards beside the respective cards and turned the 5 cards around. The middle card was "the fool" card, which had 5 cards on. The card over it was the "shooting star" card who only had one card. The card to the left was the "maid" card with 2 cards on it. The right card was the "demon" card with 5 cards as well. The card below was the "archer" card. Tara and Sartorius was staring at the cards. Especially the demon card.

"Well that is no surprise that the fool and shooting star card is in there" Sartorius said "They resemble you and Jaden. The others on the other hand.. well I am not fully sure". Tara nodded. After all everything could not be predicted.

"Could the demon be Camula?" Tara then asked "She is quite despicable I think".

"Well could be, but I actually don't think it is the case. After all she is female. The demon resemble that something bad will happen or if it is a person, then maybe from Titan's kingdom. He do experiment with demons" Sartorius told her "But which card to start with Tara?". Tara pointed at herself and then at Jaden's card. Sartorius smiled.

"That doesn't even surprise me Tara" He said and turned the one card. It was the reaper of souls.

Sartorius frowned and turned the cards on Jaden's card's around. He did that to every card on the table. Tara looked at the fortuneteller. He looked puzzled. Tara hoped it was at least one good news in all this.

"You and Jaden have meet before" Sartorius said and was staring at the cards "After the world changed. I suspect a secret meeting. Either that or a coincidence".

Tara bit her lip. Then she nodded. That was true. It was partly the reason she needed Sartorius's guidance. So she could figure out what to do about it. They had meet by chance. However Jaden had changed! Like everything in this world, he had changed, but Tara knew she had changed as well. That was impossible not to, but Jaden had recognized her and she him. He had kept his promise. Before the world had changed, Jaden had promised that whatever happened, he would never forget her. Tara had seen many of their old friends do that, but Jaden had remembered her. She was happy. So very happy. However he was serving them, and she was part of the resistance. In some way they were arc enemies now. She and the others were wanted by the kingdoms. Truthfully Jaden should have killed her on the spot. Either that or capture her, but he couldn't. She could still remember Jaden's words from that time.

"Run Tara! Get out of here NOW. Oh I can't believe that I almost killed you. Can you forgive me?".

Tara had forgiven him. She had seconds later rushed out of there. She had to because of the other pursuer, but she had never forgotten that he had let her escape. She wished to help him as well, but deep down knew that it was not possible.

"I am not gonna ask any questions into that" Sartorius then said "Everyone has their secrets and the less I know, the less I can ever tell others. But let's see what the other cards tell. It looks like the demon and archer are closer to you than the fool. Not sure if that is a good or a bad thing. The maid card.. hmm this card resemble split. Either there are two maids or this maid has two destinies unraveled to her. One of them does however look like they are closer to the fool than you". Tara looked puzzled at him.

"Which means.." she questioned. Sartorius sighed deeply.

"It means that you have some great destinies in store Tara" He said and sighed "You know one of the resistance's rules. Watch your back and observe your surroundings. Whatever you chose in the future, you will have no regrets Tara". Tara frowned.

"What kind of advice is that?" She questioned. Sartorius sighed.

"I really can't tell you more Tara. I just don't want to influence your future" He said slowly "Please understand". Tara bit her lip. She was about to say something, when a knock on the door could be heard.

"Sartorius sir" could they hear Atticus say from the other side of the door "Breakfast is almost ready sir". Sartorius nodded to himself and got up from the table.

"Coming!" He yelled "And Tara is with me, so no need to wake her up".

"Good to know that" they could hear Atticus mumble "Then I have time waking Aster up. He is not a morning person". Tara smiled. That was so true.

"Sartorius" she said quickly. She needed to talk to him, before he was out of the room. "The cards, I have to know. Will I meet Jaden again?". Sartorius sighed.

"Tara, I am not sure it is a good idea.." However Tara interrupted him.

"Answer me. I have to know. Will I ever meet him again?" She said determined.

"You are not letting this one go right" Sartorius said and sighed again "Fine. The cards said you most likely would meet again". Tara's eyes lit up and she quickly hugged the fortuneteller, which surprised him a big deal.

"Oh thank you, thank you" She said and let go "Now I feel better. Breakfast here I come".

Then before Sartorius could do or stop her, she rushed out of the door and down the hallways towards the meeting hall. The fortuneteller sighed and looked at the cards of the table. One card caught his attention. The "reaper of souls" card. It could mean two things. Rebirth or death. He sighed.

"Tara, take good care of yourself" He mumbled slowly "Whatever choices you are gonna make in the future. It will without a doubt have great consequences". Then he left the room as well.

Aster's p.o.v.

Time skip.

Aster walked through the cold street of a little town somewhere around in Camula's kingdom in Asia. All the cities were almost the same to him, so Aster didn't really care what the town was called. They were moving the headquarter once in a month anyway. He walked down the market place, dressed in a cloak with hoody. It hid his resistance clothes and secondly made him blend in. Everyone was having cloaks with hoody these days. It hid their true intentions as Aster called it. Which could be used for good and bad stuff sadly. People in cloaks could be resistance in disguise or bad guys in disguise. In some way a double-edged sword. These days you have to be extra careful. Aster looked around. Even through Kagemaru was controlling the world the marked place was filled with life. A lot of bargains was going on and things got sold, but Aster had seen more life in one of the other countries. Even through there were life and sales going on, Aster knew people was stroke with fear. He had a hunch it had something to do with Camula. He figured the vampire mistress took people away once in a while, to drink their blood. Or he guessed that was the case. He had never seen it in action. However rumors had it that people got taken away, but if they didn't struggle, they would live on and some even returned home. They were either weak or on the verge of dead, but they were alive. Apparently Camula was making sure humanity didn't die. That didn't count resistance people or trespassers though. Set foot near Camula's castle in Transylvania and you would mostly be dead. That's how rumors were. Aster sighed and looked around. Atticus had asked him to bring some food back to the headquarter since he was on info collector. Secondly since he knew the right places to do the best trades. He was quick to pick up on that, which was handy since they moved every month. He sighed and walked over to a stand. It was selling fish and fruit. A muscular man, clearly fisher was standing at the stand. Aster looked slowly around and noticed a mark who was cut into the wood of the stand. It was barely visible, but it was still there. The letter R. Aster smirked. It was the mark who told resistance people that they were on their side. Aster looked slowly around on the stand. If the letter K was in here, it meant Kagemaru's follower were either watching or knew about their support. However it wasn't here. He tossed a silver coin at the table and coughed a little.

"The hope rises from the ashes" He then slowly whispered and the man frowned. He quickly looked around and placed two fish and some bags with fruit on the table.

"You must be A.P. The infamous Phoenix, it is an honor meeting you" The male said "Heard a lot about you and your cause". Aster nodded. He was well known around the world. After all there were wanted posters of him all around the world. Almost everyone in the resistance had a price over their head.

"How much?" He asked "Having delivery?". The male leaned towards him and pretended to take the silver coins from his pocket.

"50 coins" he said first and then whispered "Bad timing coming to town A.P. Camula has left her castle for a while, which means the country is in charge of her other vampires".

Aster frowned a little by that. Camula was not really a person who left the castle for a long time. She could take a stroll around the country for a day or two, but not long travels. One of his spies told him, she was not that kind of type who did that.

"Any reason why she did that?" He whispered and took the bags. The male nod.

"A friend of mine, who works at the castle told me, the 5 kingdoms had assembled a meeting again" He said slowly "She left a day or two ago to that island, and had two follower with her. Her two favorites. Although not sure who they are, just know that the other Vampires who visits us, complain about that".

Aster frowned. This was interesting news indeed. He had to share it with the others, when he came back. He enchanted a few more information with the guy, like the delivery, and if he knew other shops who would be interested in helping them. Then he grabbed his things and continued his quest in collecting food. He hadn't taken many steps when a voice rang through the crowd. "Thief, thief stop her". Aster had just heard these words when a yellow longhaired girl, rushed passed him, clinging to a bag with properly food in it. Aster just noticed she was dressed in some rags and noticed her emerald eyes. Aster froze. Only one girl he knew of had such eyes and hair. It couldn't be..

"Out of the way!" yelled a voice and seconds later Cliff, from the dark scorpions group rushed passed by him.

Aster sneered. Dark scorpions was the police in this world and was not a fair kind of that. They all worked for Kagemaru, but the group was split up as police through the world. Apparently Cliff had Asia's area and even through it was only him right now, people knew he could instantly transport allies by a flick from his fingers. Something with that Kagemaru had either forced or asked some duel monster magician or sorcerer to give their weapons that ability. Aster guessed forced. Who would ever by their free will help that man? They also had the ability to contact the rest of the dark scorpions group, as well as other duel monsters, with a flick of his fingers as well, and it didn't help that duel monsters were massive in this world. Aster had been running for enough monsters in his life as it is. He sneered again. Well apparently he had to run some more. If his guess was correct, the yellow haired girl was Freya Lockhart, an old pro duelist from the old days. She had been a child protégé just like he had been, back when the world had been filled with light. However then had Kagemaru appeared and made dueling banned. A lot of pro duelist suddenly didn't have any job any longer. Aster had been one of them. If it hadn't been for Sartorius and the resistance.. Aster would properly be as poor as the girl right there. A squalid thief. He had to help her! Without thinking he rushed after Cliff and the girl.

He found Cliff in a dark alley. He had cornered the girl and had even managed to get a hold on her. He had grabbed her arm and even though she was fighting, the girl couldn't get free from his grip. In his other hand was a high-tech walkie talkie, who was the one he contacted his comrades with. Like the weapons it was filled with magic and could properly reach to the old North America and Kagemaru's headquarter. Aster had a feeling the device was coming from Banner and his scientists. He was known for his weird research and devices after all.

"Let me go!" yelled the girl "Let me go or you are gonna be sorry". Cliff snort.

"Stealing in lord Kagemaru's world is a crime girl" He said and touched the walkie talkie "Calling base, have a code green here. Only a simple thievery, what to do with her?". The device was giving out a weird sound at first, then a voice could be heard.

"Bring her to the castle. We from the flock are hungry". Aster froze. No! Not one of the vampires! He had to do something. Cliff saluted.

"Yes sir, I will bring her right away.."

However he got interrupted, when smoke bomb hit him and made him cough. Aster rushed in there and grabbed the girl's hand. Sadly everything didn't go as well as he planned. He had planned for a quick cover up and disappearing in a flash plan, but sadly he didn't count for that the fact, that Cliff was trained to never let go of his targets regardless what. He hadn't let go of the girls arm.

"Who are disturbing the investigation? That is a crime!" Cliff yelled and was staring at the hoody Aster, when the smoke disappeared.

Aster sneered inside. He hated violence. It made him feel like he wasn't better than Kagemaru and his followers. However he sadly had to. He quickly grabbed one of his dagger from his belt and stabbed Cliff in the hand. The scorpion member let out a scream and instantly let go. Aster grabbed the girls arm and was about to rush away, Cliff had grabbed his hoody.

"Not so fast pal, disturbing a crime is a code yellow. You are under arrest as well" He said and sneered "Secondly you injured me".

Aster snort and turned quickly around and kicked the police member in the stomach. Cliff coughed and let surprised go, but not before he managed to remove Aster's hoody. Cliff's eyes widened.

"You! Aster Phoenix" He said and then smiled.

He was holding up the walkie talkie, but Aster didn't want to stay until he had finished with his call. He quickly grabbed the girls hand and rushed out of there. In the background he could hear Cliff's voice.

"Calling all units. We have a code red. I repeat, a code red. Spotted Aster Phoenix in the city and are requesting backups".

Time skip.

Aster sighed. He was hiding in a dark alley and was well hidden in shadows. Luckily there were many people who was against the police, but was afraid of Kagemaru's or his followers judgement. Many humans wanted the world back to how it used to be, but were not strong enough to do anything. That or they were afraid. So people did the only thing they could do. Doing nothing! They were not helping the resistance, but that also meant they were not helping Cliff right now either, and Aster was thankful for that. Aster placed himself up at the wall when a squad of monsters rushed passed his hiding spot. It was amazing how quick Cliff had summoned his allies. The city was overrun by guards now. Aster bit his lip. He could hear Kaiba yell at him inside his head now. Look what you have created. Now they know we are here. Aster sighed. He could also hear Sartorius's voice in his head. Didn't I tell you to be careful! Aster couldn't do anything but laugh right now. If he ever returned to the headquarter, he would gladly take his punishment. Finally the sound of guards disappeared and the former pro turned towards the girl.

"We should be safe for now" He said and smiled. The girl didn't say anything. She only nodded. Aster looked confused at her. The Freya he knew was more talkative.

"You are Freya Lockhart right?" He questioned and saw the girl nod "It is me Aster. Aster Phoenix!". The girl nodded again and sighed.

"I know. A part of the resistance. The Aster Phoenix" she then said. Her voice sounded harsh. Like she didn't use it that much. Aster was confused. What had happened to her? Freya sighed again. Then she looked at Aster.

"Why are you sticking up for me?" She questioned "You made a big ruckus in the city, only to save a thief girl. Do all your resistance guys have hero complex?".

"No not really" Aster said "I only saved you because you reminds me of myself. Your life is properly what I would have ended up, if I haven't had my friends". Freya snort.

"No it wouldn't" she only replied. Aster looked confused at her, and was about to ask her what she meant, when they could hear voices. Two male voices.

"You are sure this it the way they ran off to?" a voice said.

Aster couldn't remember where he had heard it before. He could hear Freya sneer. The word "Vampire" was also mentioned. Aster sneered inside. Of course one of Camula's vampire had to arrive here as well. He mentally facepalmed. It was Camula's kingdom so of course one of her vampires would arrive here.

"Yes Frost sir" he could hear another voice say. Aster knew this was Cliff's voice "My spies tells me they saw them run down here".

Aster sneered and took up the second dagger from the belt. Frost was known for his cold and ruthlessness nature. He was a vampire, who liked seeing his victims in pain. He also liked battle a lot. However Aster had heard rumors that he only had that ruthless personality against humanity. His vampire siblings where a different case. Aster sighed and gave Freya one of his daggers. She frowned a little.

"Is that the best you have on you?" She said in disbelief "No wonder the resistance hadn't attacked any kingdoms yet, with these purely made weapons". Aster snort.

"Stop complaining. We haven't had a chance get anything of the good weapons from Kagemaru's lair" Aster said and sighed "Secondly we have no blacksmith. We have to settle for what we can find". He could hear Freya snort and she took Aster's dagger. She was looking around in her surroundings though.

"Ah look who is chilling out here" said a voice suddenly and they were pushed out of the shadows. Aster kept his footings though, while Freya fell to the ground. Aster however did quickly shield her.

"Freya get out of her NOW!" he yelled and saw the girl hesitate "There is no time to argue. He will not come after you. It is me he want!". He could hear the vampire grin.

"Yep, that is so true" Frost said and the vampire walked out "I want the phoenix, but Cliff can take care of your little escaping girlfriend".

Aster noticed that Freya was long gone. Cliff saluted and disappeared seconds later. Frost smirked evilly and took some small steps towards Aster. Aster instantly backed away from him. Frost was dressed in black pants, a black jacket with white fur around the neck and underneath was a red t-shirt shown. He was having a little white cape hanging from his shoulders and had a white beanie on his head. He was having two earrings in each ear and a necklace around his neck. Aster knew he was hiding a pair of wings on his back and his fangs were not shown yet. The gray haired male lifted his dagger and was ready to fight. Frost grinned and suddenly, without even After noticing at first, he was pinned to the wall. He coughed as well, because of his back hit the wall with great force.

"Oh are you really one from the resistance" Frost questioned and was holding Aster in a tight grip on his shoulders "You didn't even put up a good fight. Now tell me phoenix boy, where is your comrades? The other people from the resistance? If you tell me, my mistress might spare you".

Aster snort and spit him in the face. He was also fighting like hell. Since he couldn't move his arms, he was trying to kick Frost. The vampire just snort and hit him in the stomach with his knee. Aster gasped.

"You can't win against me phoenix boy" Frost said and grinned "I am a vampire, who got chosen by our dear mistress Camula, and therefore I am invincible. But what to do with you".

Aster sneered and tried getting free again. He liked the solution where he actually let go of him and let him escape, but he knew that would never happen.

"Let's see, I could capture you and bring you to our mistress" Frost said thoughtfully "Our mistress is not home right now though, but the dungeon could be used until she does. Then when she got the information she need, we can have a hunting game out of you together with my siblings".

Aster frowned a little, but didn't say a thing. If he only got captured then maybe the resistance could free him? However then he could hear Frost laugh and he froze inside. It was a cold malicious laughter.

"However if I do, I will have to wait and share you, now wouldn't I" Frost said coldly and his fangs were shown "Secondly you are from the resistance. There is no special rules with your kind other that death and I am hungry".

Aster's eyes widened. Shit, he wants to eat from me! He began fighting even more, but Frost was having him in an even tighter grip. The vampire bowed in towards him. Aster closed his eyes and waited for the worst to happen. Then a loud BAM could be heard and Aster could feel the grip loosen. He opened his eyes and saw Freya in front of him.

"Huff Vampires" she snort "They think they are invincible. However they are not". Aster looked shocked at her. In her hands she was holding a frying pan and Frost was lying on the ground. He was unconscious.

"Where did you.. how did you.." Aster was really puzzled, but then added "You came back for me". Freya snort and shrugged.

"Yeah so? and does it matter where I got it from?" she then said "And I am only helping you because you helped me. I owed you one. Let's just leave before he wakes up". Aster smiled and nodded.

"You are one of the kind Freya" He said and was thoughtful for a moment "I don't know why, but I have a feeling I can trust you. Therefore I will break protocol a little. Come with me".

He grabbed her hand and before Freya could do or say a thing, he rushed down the streets and out of the city.

A,N: well that was that chapter for now. Hope you like it. Just some info. Sartorius is not controlled by the light, if you were wondering, and he is not evil. Because of the dark world, the light of ruin can't enter. As for the next duel, we are jumping over to the Scandinavian kingdom. Hope you had fun and please comment of what you think of the story