Sabyien was watching as Cyndy wheeled Ryo in to the tempory room in 
the main floor, Ryo was allowed to move back home as long as he was 
confinded to the bed for a few days. The doctor was there there too. 
"I don't believe it. he's almost fully recovered..." he said to 
Saby.  Sabyien smiled."Thank you Dr.Takahashi..." 
"You can call me Kai." 
"Kai...thank you for your desrestion." 
The doctor nodded. "I'll be by to check upon him later this 
evening...untill then,make sure that he dosn't leave the bed." 
"That shouldn't be  a problem." Seth said coming down the stairs. He 
was strounger now, Cyndy had found him and gave him a mouthful of 
her blood. 

"And as for the other gentelman." Kai nodded to the upstairs where 
they were keeping hexen. "Be sure to give him the medication i 
prescribed. He doesn't look well at all." 
"We will sir." Saby smiled eyeing the bottle in his hand. 

When the doctor left, Sabyien gave the bottle to Seth. "Will this 
help?"  Seth looked at the label and shook his head. "No, but he's 
now awake, he wants to speak to you." Say nodded, he told Cyndy to 
sit with Ryo and followed Seth upstairs. 

Cyndy sat by the boy she smiled down at him doing some needlework, a 
small hobby that she would use some days to earn extra money for her 
three children waiting at home. She smiled to herself. 'Anthony's 
birthday is comming up soon, I hope I'll have enough to get him a 
gift...' she thought returning her eyes to ryo who was laying back 
to rest the pain killers he had been giving setting in. "I'm sure 
you will..." The boy muttered nodding off. 

Hexen sat up in bed waiting for the others. 

"Sabyien...come closer." 
Sabyien walked from the door to the bedside. "Hexen, can you tell us 
who did this to you? I've heard that there is a new group of 
Vampire-Hunters." 

"I don't know there names. there was a man with a large facial tatoo 
on both the left and right side." He wiped his eyes. "He was the one 
who took Lucivar from me. were he here right now I'd-" 
"Die. you're to weak to do anything at the moment." Sabyien 
interupted bluntly. 

"If you were kind enough you'd help me remedy that." the vampire 
said pointedly. Sabyien frowned. "We'll get to that, but first... 
what else do you remeber? How many people?" 

"Four of them..." Hexen frowned. "I've been able to take on whole 
armys single handedly in my life but these four..." he shook his 
head. "I was lucky to escape with my life." 

Donavin sat comfortably in in an opulant looking room. lucifer sat 
nude on the floor infront of him hand cuffed with a collar around 
his neck. it a deep powerful voice he purred. "If you would just 
call out to him you wouldn't have to suffer like this. he took a 
breath of smoke from the cigar he was smoking he leaned forward 
pullng lucifer to him and pressing the cigar to the boys body below 
his navel. the scent of burning flesh was punctuated by the boys cry 
of pain. the man let him go and continued to puff. 
"Leave him alone, he's not going to tell you anything." The woman's 
voice came from the side. Don looked over at the dark woman standing 
in the doorway. She moved towards the vampire on the floor. 
"Shanna, this boy..." He gave Luciver a nudge with his foot>"...will lead us to the vampire king." Shanna looked disintrested, 
so Donavin continued. "...and maybe to your brother Draven." She 
frowned. 
The man gave Luciver a sharp kick, the boy when rolling across the 
floor coming to rest by Shanna's feet. 
"Make him talk." Donavin ordered. 
The woman glared, how dare he ask this of her...She knelt, as her 
hand toched the boy's skin, he began to scream as Shanna sent volts 
of eletricity throught his body. 

Don closed his eyes and sat back a smug little smirk on his face, he 
was enjoying the boys pain. not to the point of massochistic 
pedofelia, but pretty damn close enough. 
"Please... stop...." Lucivar whispered only loud enough for shanna 
to hear.. the tears were pouring from his eyes, he looked vunerable, 
innocent, she drew her hand back. 

"Why do you keep quiet?" Shanna asked the boy. "Or are the rumors 
true, Vampire King's little plaything....that you enjoy the pain he 
cuases you?" 
There was a chuckle at the door,"Maybe that's why he dosn't want to 
say anything Shanna, he's enjoying himself too much." a blound teen 
walked into the room, he had an appearce of a surfer, but Brian was 
one of the most deadly hunters in the world. A shadow of a man 
followed him in, this tall silenent specter had long milk-white hair 
a blood red eyes, the albino had no name, his compainons just called 
him 'Shadow' 
Brian looked scornfully down at Lucivar. "Why don't you just kill 
him?" 
Don snorted. "He's the only link we have...The Vampire king is still 
out there somewhere." 
"Right, right." Brian kelt down to take a closer look at the boy's 
face. "Hey kid, want some?" He grabed the boy's hair and yanked him 
around. Brian's finger trailed along the boy's skin, leaving black 
soot of brunt skin. Brian luaghed at the helpess vampire's pleading 
cries.   Shadow as usaual, appeared dissiterested, he never spoke, 
it wasn't known if he was a mute or not. 
Shanna couldn't take it anymore. She never enjoyed torcher and the 
way Brian was luaghing grated on her nerves. 
"Heh heh.....You like that don't you? want more you little Fucker?" 
Brian didn't see the steel toe boot swinging into the face. Brian 
hit the floor, he looked in suprise, his mouth cut and bleeding. 
"What the Hell are you doing Shanna!?" he yelled, jumping up. 
"Your going to kill him if you keep that up." 
"So? He's a vampire, all vampires deserve it!" Brian formed in his 
hands a fire-ball,  Shanna responded, getting into a fighting 
stance. 

"Rapheal's data bank has been altered, so not even the knights know 
who of thier forces are the vampire hunters." Sabyien said, rollling 
up his sleeave, he sat by Hexen. 
"What about thier Seer?" 
"I haven't heard any word on Micheal." Saby tencsed as Hexen took 
the offered arm. 

Lucivar cried. he wasn't enjoying this. he hated pain, he wished 
they would just kill hm and end it. why were they tormenting him? He 
could't call out to hexen. its not that he wouldn't. he couldn't. 
"I...I Can't contact him...." He weeped. "I was too young when he 
turned me. I just cant contact him..." 

"Well you heard the kid. he's no use to us..." Brian chuckled. "Come 
on Shana. Lets get rid of him already." 

"No" 
"No?" Brian sneered, 
"Shanna's right. We are not going to kill him." Don said. "He will 
still be useful to us as Bait. If the Vampire is conserned enough 
he'll attempt to find him....that is, if he cares about his 
'plaything'. Shanna, make our little guest comfortable. We'll need 
to keep him alive." 
Shanna nodded. She lifted the boy's over one shoulder and gestred to 
Shadow to follow her. 
They walked into a room with solid steel walls, on the floor was a 
thin mat. Shadow locked the door behind them and watched Shanna drop 
to the floor with Luciver in her arms. She craddled him almost 
tenderly, she cut one of her finger tips and the blood dripp between 
the boy's lips. "Come on, you need to drink..." Luciver truned his 
face away.  Shanna sighed and looked up at Shadow. The albino was 
looking down at the boy with pity, he kelt down and gently stroked 
the boy's face. 
Luciver looked up at Shadow, ".....Why don't you tell them?" he 
asked the man."I know that you are..." Shadow shook his head putting 
his finger up to his lips. His eyes spoke of encouragement and 
understanding, he pushed Shanna's bleeding finger into luciver's 
outh, 
::"Be strong, small one.":: 
Luciver's eyes snaped open, it was telepathic-speach, this man had 
vampiric ablities! 

the boy drank only a small amount of the womnas blood before moving 
away from them and cowering in the corner. the cold steel wall made 
him shiver. he curled up into a small ball watching the two like a 
caged animal. the telepath lead the woman out. The boy sat alone for 
what felt like hours. teartracks lining his face. he shivered the 
room was cold. like a freezer. there was a knock at the dor. he 
stayed where he was arfaid of who would be at the door. a secton of 
the panel opened shadow stood alone at the door. a tra in his hands. 
a dish of what looked like tomato soup and a small bundle of 
clothing. he approached the boy who looked up at him in terror. the 
man gave an understanding nod and set the tray down ansd retreated 
back throgh the hole which closed again behind him. Cautiosly 
lucivar approached the tray, the red liquid in rhw bowl was blood, 
no doubting that. the bundle held some clothes. they were a little 
larger than him. he thankfully pulled them on. holding now a silent 
kind of reverance for the man who had given him these things. 

Shanna and Brian waited by the car, they where waiting for Shadow. 
They had gotten word that thier next target was Seth Belmont. 
Donavin wanted the that vampire dead and the only place to get 
information about him was throught the Guardian.  "Is what they is 
ture? that the Guardian is married to to a saint?" 
Shanna shrugged.  She saw movement and watched Shadow as he 
hesitated at door, he put on a hat with a wide brim to shield his 
face from the bright daysun. 
"Finally, What where you doing anyways? Let's go." Brian hopped into 
the back of car. 

Shadow sat in the back watching the others silently. wondering what 
it was about the boy that had gotten under his skin, there had been 
other vampires he had killed, what had made him so special? 

Seth sat waching hexen. "Well I think i'm going to go for a look 
around. we won't find lucivar sitting around here." 

They pulled up to the house, or rather, mansion that the Guardian 
resisded. Shanna got out, she left Shadow and Brian in the car. She 
needed to gleen some information about Seth's where abouts without 
giving herself away. Her knocks where answered by an elderly 
gentleman. "I need to speak to Mr. Lazen please." 
"What bussiness have you have with Mr.Lazen?" the manservent asked 
politely. 
Shanna flashed her knight's pendent. "-Our- bussiness." 

"Sabyien Sir, there is a young woman demanding to see you 
about....important bussiness." 
Sabyien blinked. A Tempor knight? "Did you let her in?" 
"Yes." 
He looked at Seth. "It must be important, they usally don't make 
house-calls." 
"Or" the vampire Hexen offered. "She could be a spy." 
Seth shrugged, "Go talk to her, but don't mention us. We are not 
here." 

Shanna was looking at a framed piece of stonework, it looked to be a 
part of the Egyption book of the dead.  "Miss?" 
She truned to the voice, she had expected the elderly manservent to 
come instead the Guardian himself froze at the top of the stairs. 
When she turned to face him, Sabyien felt a spear of ....somthing, 
kin to shock.  Her dark features and dark eyes seemed so familier 
o him, and he couldn't place why. 
Lord, she thought, the rumors about him are true. Unreal. 
"Guardian? 
He continued down the stairs, trying to sort his feelings. Have I 
meet her somewhere before? why do I feel this....for her? Sabyien 
saw her look of amazment, and for some reason, it amused him. He 
grined. "Please, Call me Sabyien." 
"Sabyien...." Shanna was put off by his grin, it looked so much 
like....she'd seen it somewhere before. she couldn't remeber where, 
it frustrated her.  "....I'm here on behalf of Gabriel, have you recived the package he sent you?" 
"Yes I have." Sabyien said automaticly, then inwardly winced. 
he 
should have given more thought about his responces instead of 
blurtting them out.  This feeling of close familieraty with this 
woman had put him off guard. What was it about her that made him 
feel this way....other then being attrative? 
"That's good."  She said, to cover up her suprise at seeing his 
interest in her. His attaction was somewhat a legend in the ranks of 
the knights. She didn't expect him be so open with her? or was 
he....oh my god, she thought, what if he comes on to me? the though 
made her heart kick up a notch. "...then you are informed of our 
mission?" 
Sabyien cuaght her words. "Yes, Gabe told me that a specialist was 
going to accompany me during the mission. Nice to meet you." he 
smiled. Clearly aware of her attraction for him, it wasn't unusal. 
"But I wasn't told that you'd be coming over..." 
"I wanted to meet you in person..." She was looking directly into 
his eyes, she was speaking truthfuly."...before the Mission began." 
Damn her, Sabyien cursed himslef, how is she doing this? Conversing 
like this felt absrbly natural, like he'd known her all his life. he 
couldn't lie to her. "Then I looked forward to seeing you 
again...miss...??" he held out his hand to her. 
"Shanna..." she smiled, not realizing that she'd probly given 
herself away revealing her true name. She took his hand. 
".............." 
He felt more then just her hand in his. He felt her Ki, her 
life-force. It was clear now....he could see the same emotion 
mirrored in her eyes. More then attraction, a deep 
affection....something that forfilled that small empty corner of his 
heart. 
"...Shanna." 

Shadow sat in the back of the car thinking to himself about nothing inparticular. he could hear a faded conversation commig from the house. 
'Where were you last place you saw him?' inquired one voice 
'we were in paris Lucifer wanted to see the art.' this voice was powerful
yet soft, something had hurt them deeply. he nodded to himself knoing the
voice belonged to the vampire lord. he wouldn't tell the others. what was
the fun in that? 

"Uhm,...Until then.." Saby was the first to let go of her hand, 
sudden;y realzing that he'd been holding longer then.. 
"Yes. " she nodded, and truned away to hide her red face. "Until 
then." She hurried out the door. 
Shanna was barly two steps out the door when she realized what had 
happened. "Damn" she mummered under her breath as she opened the car 
door and slumped into the seat. 
"So, what happened? Did he saything?" Brian asked her. 
"N-no...He was too good for that. I didn't get to asking him about 
Mr.Belmont. 
Shadow lifted an eyebrow, curious. 
Unsatisfied with her answer Brian truned in his seat to Shadow. "You 
did do a mind scan...is he there?" 
The albino nodded. 
"So, Why aren't we making our move?" Brian tenced up eager, he 
wanted vampires to brun. 
Shadow shook his head, and traced an 'S' and a 'G' with his fingers. 
Shanna nodded. "He's right, we can't just go an make our attack, it 
would put the Saint and the Guradian's life in danger....We'll have 
to wait" 
"What if they are being held hostage by by the Vampire? We could 
free them." 
She thought about her conversation with the Guradian, "Somehow.....I 
don't think that's the case." 
"What do we do now?" 
"Let's get back to Donavin. We must tell him before we make our next 
move." 

Donovain sat drowsing sleepilly. he yawned beginning to loose 
interest in what he was wartching on television. He was beginning to 
get bored. maybe he'd go torment the captive a bit. that would be 
good for a laugh. 

"So, who was that?" Seth asked as Sabyien walked into the Hexen's 
room.  "It was my new partener for the next mission. She wanted to 
meet me before-hand." 
"Is that all she wanted?" Seth asked raising an eyebrow. Pinning sabyien in a gaze. The guardian shook his head. 
"Relax seth she's just a co-worker." 
"So was I and we know how that turned out." 
Sabyien blushed, He knew. "Do you think that I wouldn't have 
unprofessional thoughts about my new partener?" 
"I wasn't conserned with you, I'm more worried about her." 

Hm, Ryo thought. 'This is nice.'  he was relaxing in the bed half 
asleep. Seth walked in smiling."How are you feeling Ryo.?" 
Ryo smiled back. "Better." 
"That's good," The vampire nodded, "Cyndy, could you leave us?  Now 
then..." Once the maid was gone Seth pulled off his clothing in a 
senual manner. 
"Seth?" 
The vampire purred, crawling along the sheets. "I'm going to make 
you feel more then 'better' little one." Ryo could feel his heart 
pounding as Seth slowly pulled the bed sheet away from his naked 
body, the slick caress of the satin sheet smooth on his skin. Ryo 
moaned, the vampire now placing light teasing kisses.....then in one 
fluid movement, Seth lifted the boy up, impaling him with his hard 
throbbing shaft. Ryo cried out. "Oh god!" His mind swam, his body 
tightened around Seth's, the vampire was nuzzling his throat, fangs 
penitrated the tender skin. Seth groaned in pleasure. ".....Ams." 
Ryo bolted awake, starled. He looked around, Cyndy was still there, 
deeply engrossed in her paper-back novel. and the bed sheet was 
clean cotton, not satin. Ryo lifted the bedsheet up, and he was 
still wearing the PJs he had on before...He truned red, his body had 
reacted to the dream. 
"How are you feeling Ryo?" Seth looked into the room, seeing Ryo 
awake he smiled. 
"Better." Ryo replied, then blushed, realizing what he'd just said. 
"That's good....anything you need?" Seth asked, he noticed how 
flushed Ryo's skin was. 

The three others came back intime to meet Donavin half down the 
hall. Shanna quickly informed him. "Seth Belmont is there, at the 
Guardian's residence....though, I couldn't get any information, it 
may be that he is being held hostage by the vampire." 
thoughts about the vampire-child shoved out of his mind, Donavin 
gestured them to enter a small side room, filled with books. "That 
does hold the possiablity that the Saint is being held hostage too." 
Brian frowned, "Shadow?" 
Shadow had truned right around and was heading back down the hall. 
He truned and recived a shrug from Shanna and then settled down to 
descus options with the others. 

Ryo moved to get up from the bed seth moved and put a hand on his 
forehead. "You're feeling a little warm..." 
"I'm fine." the boy insisted trying to get up. "Really." 
"I hope that you don't get a feaver..." Seth said, pulling at the 
sheets straightening them out, he leaned forwards to give Ryo a 
kiss. 

Luciver startled out from his nap. He scrambled up to huddle in the 
farthist corner as the door opened. It was that man who looked like 
he was carved from ivory, the one who gave him the clothing. 
Shadow closed the door behind him and sat crosslegged in the middle 
of the floor and closed his eyes. Luciver watched him for several 
long moments...the man didn't appear to be moving at all, no breath. 
The vampire-child realxed from his tensce position and sniffed the 
air.  He wanted to know what this man was, for he had communicated 
with him in the manner how vampires silently communicated....and he 
had no heart-beat, no pluse. No, wait...Luciver strained to listen, 
yes he did have a heart-beat, very faint, but it was there. He 
breathed deeply, trying to get the man's scent.....Human, he had the 
warm smell of a human.  Odd. 
When he realized that Shadow wasn't making anymove towards him, 
Lucvier began to get curious. He cuatiously crept towards Shadow, 
freezing every so often, expecting him to awaken. When Luciver got 
close enough, he reached out. 
Shadow's eyes snaped open, peering at the the vampire-child with 
ruby-colored eyes. Luciver let out a frightened cry and backed away 
fast. Shadow's face softened, slowly, he held out his hand to the 
vampire-child trying to shrink away from him. He kept his hand out, 
waiting. 
:: "I will not hurt you..." :: 
Lucifer remained a sawfe distance away watching the man. cautiously 
distrusting. He looked at the man he moved closely. "Who are you?" 
Shadow's lips did not move.  :: "I am....like you"::  he kept his 
hand out. ::"....and yet not....:: 
The voice in Luciver's head fadded hesitenly, ::...You may call me 
Dante, if you wish little one:: 
"Dante..." Lucifer said quietly. "What... are you?" 


Ryo got out onto the balcony of the
room watching the sun go down.
"Lucifer... I Hope you're alright... wherever you are." 
Shadow smiled, he had heard the Saint.  Carfully extending his mind, 
he blanketed them both in the mind-cloak. He slowly stood up and 
stepped out from behind the hedges. 
::"Saint-child":: 
Ryo truned, his eyes widened when he was the stranger adressing him. 
Shadow looked like a ghost with his white robes. He gestured, 
::....You know of the small one that they imprisoned?":: 
Ryo stepped back. "Who are you?" 
:: "I am.....someone who wants to help. Luciver can not be saved 
unless you come with me. Hurry, the Vampire Hunters will come to 
take you soon." ::   The voice in Ryo's head sounded calm yet 
regent. 
"How would I know to trust you?" Ryo looked ready to bolt.  Shadow 
shook his head. :: "Please, I'm begging you...You must help me with 
the cure." :: 
"What cure?" 
:: "A cure that I can be fully...." :: He stopped, he had about to 
say more then he intended to. He gave Ryo an imploring look. ::....A 
cure to make Luciver human again.":: 
Ryo Looked at the mans solemn face. he looked up at the light in the 
room with the vampireshe set down his mug on the railing. "Let me 
leave him a note..." 
::There's No Time for that.::  Sahdow moved quickly pulling ryo from 
the porch and knocking him out carrying him off one of ryo's 
slippers fell to the grass. Shadow carried him off. 

Shanna had knocked back a shot of vodka, the bar was almost quiet. 
She had found it in the a tight coner of an allyway, a perfect place 
to stay hidden from the rest of her team. 
Unknown to her, this bar was also a safe haven for vampires, Sabyien 
walked in to ask the bartender if any of the 'regulars' had shown 
up. 
"Mr, Neils..." He adressed the round fat man behind the bar. 
"....any of your regulars show up tonight?" 
Shanna truned her head and almost spat out ger drink, seeing him 
here was the last thing she expected. 

"Damn, where are they? They should have been here." Brian was 
leaning on the car's hood. Donavian frowned. Shanna and Shadow still 
hadn't come back....but He and Brian could still do this without 
thir help. "Brian let's go....If you don't find the Guardian or the 
Saint....Burn it." he indicated the house. 
Brian grinned. "Finally, I get to see some fireworks." He cracked 
his knuckles and followed Donavin. 

Seth had excused himself from Hexen to go check on Ryo and Get the 
vampire lord something to eat. he entered the kitchen looking at the 
open door. Why did ryo always do that? he wondered going to shut the 
door and look for the boy. he could see in the growing glom that ryo 
had also taken up a second habit of leaving his drinks unfinished. 
he picked it up the mug was still warm. he looked around. he 
couldn't have gone far. he looked around spotting the slipper. and 
the second set of foot prints. 

"Sabyien?" 
Hearing her voice, Saby truned in suprise."Shanna! what are you 
doing here?" 
"......." Shanna blinked, "I came here for a drink...Do you come 
here often?" 
The guradian gave her a weak smile. "Not as often as I'd 
like.....I'm usaly very busy at home." 
"Well.....why not have a drink with me?" Shanna asked him. 
"I'm sorry, I took a vow never to consume ahcohol." 
"ah, Ok. then you don't mind driving me back to my hotel room 
later?" Maybe it was the drink, but her thoughts truned towards 
getting this man alone with her. "...I really shouldn't be driving 
afterwards." 

Seth picked up the slipper, the secound set of foot prints where 
bigger them Ryo's. He felt a growing sence of panic. 'what happened 
to Ryo?' 
:: "Misha? what's wrong?" ::  Hexen had senced Seth's distress. 
:: "Ryo...Some one has taken Ryo- " :: 
Seth's head snaped up when he felt the strong malice coming towards 
him. 
"Hello here, you must be Belmont."  a young man with blound streaks 
in his hair walked out of the shadows. "Heh, your dead Vampire." 
Seth turned towards the newcomer slowly. "I am? Well I suppose one 
could phrase it that way." He shrugged. "What can I do you for?" 
"You can Die." Brian offered calm and collected as if offering an 
afterschool event. "Now just lie down and take it like a man." 
Seth chuckled to himself. "You know... thats the same thing i said 
to the guardian last night... but not about death. If you'll excuse 
me I should be going." 
"I think you misunderstand." The man came ever closer to the 
vampire. "I'm here to to kill you." 
"I see... Pitty. I was about to offer you a drink." Seth sighed then 
threw the hot beverage at brian the you avoided the mug but the 
coacoa hit its mark splashing in his eyes. 
The liqiud stung his eyes. In his anger, Brian lashed out with 
flaming toungs licking the air. 
Seth jumped back to avoid the flames. 'A Pyro.' the vampire thought. 
'a very dangerous techniqe.' 

Donavin walked up the the stairs, while Brian would serch the lower 
levels of the house,  he'd...he stopped. Alerted by Seth's 
telephatic warning, Hexen had gotten up and tried to escape, he 
still wasn't up to his full strengh. 
"I'm suprised to see you here. Vampire." Donavian said, "What 
atrocities have you done this time? to the Guardian and the Saint?" 
"Nothing. Where is lucivar?" Hexen demanded sanding at the top of 
the stairs using the railing to keep him from falling down the 
stairs. his head swam slightly he prayed he wouldn't black out. 

Brian finally boiled the liquid from his eyes. flames licing and 
dancing around his body. "You really know how to piss me off dont 
you?" 
"I try my best." Seth struck a defensive pose. awaiting the first 
attack. 
Seth jumped high into the air when the Pyro-kid lashed out with a 
whip made of bruning embers. the whip hit the side of the house, 
chariing it with a black smoldering scar. The vampire bit the tips 
of finger and using his blood, created a series of threads which 
snaked through the air, seeking to disable the kid. 
Brian saw them coming, surpising Seth with his speed. he lashed out 
again....with another ember whip. 

"I don't know...I'm kinda busy tonight Shanna." Sabyien tooka step 
away from the bar. 
Shanna  pouted. "Your gonna let a lady drink and drive? What 
happened to high moral code I've kept hearing about?" 
Sabyien sighed, "Alright I'll give you a ride back." 
Sabyien Supposrted shanna leading her out to the car. she clung to 
him feigning drunkenness. he loaded her into the car and got in. 
"Where too?" 
"The lazender." She giggled. now succuming to the alchohol. 

Seth jumped back evading the second attack. his back was up against 
the wall literally. he could see that he was pressed up against the 
pool house convienently. Brian lashed out again. seth leapt 
backwards through the glass as it shattered from the heat. he stood 
on the edge of the pool and waited. 
"You think that this water can stop me?" Brain chuckled the flames 
on his body growing hotter. the water in the pool began to boil. 
"Vampire soup... tastey." 

Donovan slunk up the stairs towards the vampire king. "Run away why 
don't you? Run like the frightened animal you are." 
Hexen staggered back against the back wall ::"Misha...":: 
:: "I'll be right there My Lord...":: was Seth's reply 

"The water wasn't what i was comming here for." Seth pulled one of 
the pool cleaning tools off the wall. he threw it hard. brian stood 
frozen in horror as his flames melted the plasic of the skimmer and 
reduced the pole to a sharpened scewer. he felt it peirce his throat 
extending the whole way through the handle against his throat. 
"Bas-..." He chked tipping over and landing in the pool. 
::'Hang on Hexen... i'm on my way.':: 
Seth ran into the house not noticing that the earier hits to the 
house was still smoldering. Inside the wall the embers where blew 
into life by the brisk wind. the whole wall began to brun. 

Hexen fell through a bedroom door tying to escape Donovain who was 
following him at distance. the slayer stood over him "Awww... whats 
wrong old man... getting tired? Or would you rather die in your 
sleep?" he walked over and stepped on hexens groin the cleats on the 
bottoms of his boots "Well I hate to break it to you but I won't 
allow you that privaledge." 
A small red thread wrapped around Donovan's neck and he was pulled 
back into the hallway. Seth held tightly to the other end. "The man 
with the tattos....Hexen told me about you." 

"Oops!" Shanna stumbled into Saby's back as he stopped to open the 
door to her hotel room. 
"I-It's ok. " Saby said, "Uhm, I gotta be going-" 
"Nonsence, Come on in." she tugged on his arm, pulling him into the 
room.  Sabyien looked nervous. She was smiling at him. "You know 
your cuter in person?" her hand ran down the front of his body. 
Sabyien gasped in alarm. "Shanna what are you doing?" he flushed as 
he felt her hands going around to embrace him. 
"Shanna stop it.. I " Sabyien tried to reached around a pry her arms 
off. But She giggled. "Playing hard to get? I love it when a man 
does that." She tucked her hand under his shirt, fingers brushing 
the bare skin of his back. 
Eep! 
Saby strained aganist her tight embrace, she still woudn't let go 
and her fingers began to press into the sensitive places where his 
wings connected to his body. 
Heh, I've got him now. Shanna thought, hearing him pant and gasp. 
'just a little juice to jumpstart..' 
Sabyien screamed as she sent a tingling wave of eletricity throught 
his body. Too much, he tiped back to fall unconouis into the bed. 
Shana stood over sabyien. "So.... what now....?" she cast her eyes 
over his body. the surge had worn off sabyien lay sprewled out on 
the bed his shirt torn apart by the energy and his wings which were 
now spread wide. 
She was panicky, the drink had affected her her thinking somewhat, 
she didn't know what to do. She had made sure that the door was 
locked and that the windows where well closed. Shanna sat on the 
edge of the bed admiring the angel she had captured. While she was 
waiting for him to wake up, she fell asleep. 

Ryo Opened his eyes slowly he was sitting in a cell...he grogilly 
looked around. "Where..." He asked looking down seeing lucivar 
clinging to him. "Where are we?" 
"I don't know." 
The door opened, Luciver relaxed. "Dante?" the man was looking out 
the door. :: "I'm sorry, but we must leave...the battle is going bad 
and It would not be a good idea to remain here any longer":: 
"We are not going anywhere with you!" Ryo said, he held Luciver 
protectivly. 
Shadow frowned. :: "I have recued you from being kiddnapped-":: 
"By kiddnapping me?" Ryo asked, "Who are you anyways?" 
His shouldered heaved. :: " If it would win your trust....My name is 
Dante, I'm a Dhampir....a half breed between a vampire and human." 
::   Both Ryo and Luciver could sence Dante's sensaraity, it was a 
secret that he'd been hiding for many long years. 
Ryo held lucifer tight looking up at Shadow. "What do you want?" He 
asked frightened the man moved to the saints side. 
::'Let me feed from you.':: 
Ryo frowned. "Won't you die?" 
Dante shook his head, ::"Only the vampire half of me will...If my 
guess is right, I'll be able to share the effects of my blood as 
cure for Luciver.":: 
Ryo looked at lucivar. "Cure him? What do you mean?" 
"Remove the vampiric virus from him." 


Donovan allowed himself to be dragged backwardsuntil he was close 
enough to seth. he then leapt backwards coliding with the vampire 
causing them to tumble down the stairs. 
Seth grunted, he flexed enough to stop himslef from falling all the 
way down the stairs. He looked up to see Donovan grining down at 
him. "I'll get to you later Vampire." He said to Hexen as he 
produced a long curved blade from the flesh of his arm. 

"But...." Lucivar shook his head. "I wanna stay a vampire." 
::'What you want is a lie. The vampiric lord will only cause you to 
suffer.':: 
"It's not a lie!" Lucivar cried. "Hexen loves me. he'd never hurt 
me. Ever!" 
"Lucifer..." Ryo looked down at him, "Stop crying.... Don't 
worry...." He flicked his gaze up to Shadow. "I will help you but 
Only if you allow lucivar to stay as he is and allow us to leave 
this place safely." 

:: "I'm sorry but I cannot allow that. There will always be Vampire 
Hunters, Luciver's life will always be in danger: he was made so 
young, he's defencless on his own."::  Shadow shook his head. he 
wanted also tell them that he wanted to raise Luciver into 
adulthood, to become a campanion in his recovery. 

There was a crash, Seth frowned, the stairs where now had a big 
gapping hole in the middle where he'd just been a second ago. 

"But he won't be defenceless forever. he'll still grow!"  ryo 
protested. he stood Lucivar cowered behind him. Shadow swung at the 
boy knocking him to the floor. 
::'Are you seriously this incompitant? a fool like you was chosen to 
be a saint?!':: 

Shadow tighten his fist then continued. ::"What I am doing is giving 
him a chance to grow up, As vampire, he stays a defencless child 
forever. A child cannot stay in the company of a monster.":: 

"He's not a monster!" Lucivar shouted. kicking Shadow "You are!" the 
half vampires shin shattered on contact. 

Shadow dropped to one knee. But the broken leg didn't stop him, he 
lunged forwards and impaled Luciver with his arm. The boy gasped, 
Shadow's hand coming out from the other side of the child's body. 
:: "This only shows how misguided you are....::  Shadow slamed his 
metal powers one focus, Luciver went limp, falling to the floor. 
"Luciver!!" 
::"....he isn't dead, he's curse dosn't allow him to die.":: Shadow 
hobbled, as such as his cursed blood allowed him to focus his 
healing abiltities. ::"Perhaps I understimated his streath...that's 
good. very good." :: he smiled. :: "He may make it after all.":: 
"A test? What kind of Test was that?" Ryo demaned, he saw Luciver's 
body start to knit together with great speed. 
::" To find out..:: He stood up his leg fully healed. ::...who his 
creator is. Yes, there's no doubting it...Luciver was turned by my 
father.":: 

"Y-your father?" ryo stammered Dante grabbed him and pulled him up 
moving to pierce his throat. Ryo struggled. he thought quickly and 
slammed his hand against the half vampires mouthusing his holy 
powers he blasted a hole through the half vampires head punching a 
hole in the door to the cell causing it to open. "Lucivar! Run!" he 
creid as he and shadow fell to the floorhis hand still holding the 
boy in a vice like grip. 

:: "You Idiot!"::  The hole in Dante's head healed quicly.  ::"Have 
they taught you nothing about your powers?"::   Dante grabed a 
tigher hold of Ryo's leg and then threw him agaisnt the steel wall. 
Ryo felt his bearly healed ribs crack. Dante heard it too, he looked 
shocked. :: "No, I didn't mean to...":: 


Seth cried out in pain as the blade trailed a shallow cut along his 
arm, He hadn't been fast enough to avoid the attack compleatly. The 
small wound burned, he snarled and cradled his arm. He and Donovan 
had been fighting for the past few mintues. The Hunter had been more 
skilled then seth had first thought....and his weapons. 
"That's how you were able to weaken Hexen...But how? Only a Saint 
could bless a weapon with such power." 
Donovan grined. "Or a Saint's child.  One of my team-members was 
greatfull enough to do me the service." 
Seth ducked and rolled to the side as another blade slash thorugh 
the wall where his head was. he cused, the wound wasn't healing. 
The vampire tried to think of some kind of stratigy to take Donovan 
down...he smelled smoke, the house was on fire. 

Dante felt his face, the hole was healed, but there was an dull ache 
from the boy's power. He looked down at the unmoving pair. Lucvier's 
mind was in a cage, it would be awhile before he could move again. 
And the Saint...was trying to breathe. Dante went to roll him on his 
back. Ryo made a feeble attempt to fend him off, the Dhampir waved 
off his hands. ::"Do you want to die?' :: He pulled up Ryo's shirt 
and put his hands on the boy's body. 
Trailing threads of light flickered from Dante's finger's, Ryo 
groaned, feeling his bones repostion themselves...the pain faded. 
Dante fought to keep his hands from shaking, he took out stripps of 
cloth and binded Ryo's hands and legs. ::"Behave, or I really will 
kill Luciver.":: he put a blindfold over Ryo's eyes, then lifted him 
over one shoulder. Dante had Lucvier's limp body over the other 
shoulder and walked out the door. 

"What are you?" Ryo asked weakly. "No vampire or Dhampire has 
healing abilities like that..." Dante took a turn wide purposely 
hitting the boys head on the wall he was asking to many questions 
for the halflings preferances. ryo now hung in a groggy and subdued 
state just concious. 

He felt the cool wind, and then Dante dumped him in the back-seat of 
a car, Luciver was dropped on top of him. A black bed sheet was 
throw over them both.  Ryo tried to shake his head clear. but the 
soft drone of the car was making him drozy. 

Dante drove along the road. He was heading towards an abandoned 
church in the contryside. Spots swam in his vision. No, not now, He 
thought to himslef. He slowed and pulled to the side of the road he 
leand forwards and rested his head on the wheel, trying to will the 
weakness away. He had used too much of his energy tonight. As he 
hoved in and out of conciousness, repressed memories resurfaced. 

The child was laying on the grass, blood trickling from a corner of 
his mouth. It was raining, the frock covering him was damp, 
milk-white hair plastered to his face. He hurt, he hurt all over 
where they had beaten him. He sniffed, squeseing his eyes shut, 
trying not to cry. 
He sat up, sencing another watching him. A woman dressed in an 
elegent dress, fashionable for the times. She looked at him with sad 
eyes, walking over and kneling beside him, she wiped the blood away 
with a bit of lace from her dress. 

"Mother, Why do they always beat me?" 
The woman took hexen into her lap smiling comfortingly. she wiped 
the blood from his face with a silk kerchief and told him. "Its 
because you are different from them that the beat you. please for m 
sake never let them see your weakness. close your heart to others 
and survive my son." she kissed his fore head. 

The room image shifted to a opulently decorated hallway.....Dante 
peeked in through a door he could see his mothers slain body on the 
floor at hexens feet blood trailing down his chin he had a crazed 
look on his face. "I... Crave.... purity...." 

"Mother, Mother...." 

Ryo froze, he had heard Dante weep in his sleep. He squirmed, trying 
ot get lose. 

the boy jostled lucivar who continued to stareblankly ryo continued 
to squirm against the fabric that bound his hands wondering why in 
the several layers of the supposed hell he hadnt paid better 
attention to his escape artistry lessons during his knights 
training. he flet one of lucivars fangs scratch his arm causing him 
to bleed. 

The smell of fresh blood cuased Luciver's lips to twich. Slowly, 
Luciver came to, his tounge seeking out the teaste of blood. 

Ryo rolled over to try to cover his bleeding arm. he pulled the boy 
to him the little vampire was about to protest. "Lucifer.... be 
quiet." He whispered briskly in the boys ear. "We need to escape." 

Luciver sat up and pulled the sheet from them, he frowend, seeing 
Dante slumped aganist the wheel he untied Ryo. Once freed, Ryo tried 
to open the car door, but it was locked from out side. 
There was botton of the driver's side door that would unlock the 
door. Ryo carfuly moved to try to reach for it when Dante mubbled 
again. "Mother..." 
Ryo froze. 

Dante turned in his sleep and let out another gentle snore. slowly 
and carefully reached and grasped the togglew. he flicked it 
unlocking the doors. he opened his door carefully worried that it 
would squeak. he then ushured Lucivar out. "We need a safe place to 
hide." He whispered as he respread the sheet and shut ther door 
carefully. the two then began to run as fast as they could away from 
the sleeping vampire. 

The house was buring, the small wound on Seth's arm bled. The 
vampire still hadn't been able to get a clean hit serveral more cuts 
were begining to weaken him .  Donovan was frowning, "Your more 
slippery then I'd thought you'd be..." He stopped when he heard the 
sirens outside, someone had called the fire department. 
Donovan cursed. "Stay here and burn Vampire." he ran off, 
Coughing from the think smoke, Seth half crawed up the stairs., 
"Hexen! Lord Hexen!" 

Hexen had managed to crawl to the top of the stairs. "Misha get out 
of here!" He commanded. 
"I can't leave you!" Seth shouted back. 
"Go. I'm Immortal. I'll live through this. if you die the saint 
child will die with you. get out." the elder vampire commanded doing 
his best to crawl down the stairs sliding down them towards seths 
outstretched hands. he grabbed the burning railing to keep from 
falling into the basement. "Go Misha!" 

"Sorry to disobey you, but I'm not leaving you here to burn." Seth 
grunted, he stained standing up. He reached Hexen and pulled him up. 
"Upstairs....let's go upstairs...enternce, trapped." 
Supporting Hexen with his shoulder, Seth stummbled along the 2nd 
floor hall. He smashed one of the windows. "Sorry...about this." 
They tipped over the ledge and landed in the shrub under the window. 

Ryo ran with lucivar into the city looking around. the young boy 
took his hand. "I know a place we can hide for the night." He 
pointed to what looked to be a new building construction site. "Its 
just over there. hexen said i should always find other vampires if >we ever get seperated." ryo looked down at his bleeding arm. 

"I think this time we should make the exception... I'm bleeding 
pretty bad..." 

Luciver ripped up his shirt, and tied Ryo's arm witha strip of 
fabric. "Let's keep going." Ryo took Luciver's hands and they 
continued down the road. 

Seth took a breath, one of the firemen had found them and a 
paramedic was holding a airmask over his face. "What?" He pushed 
them away. "Where's Hexen?" 

Sabyien moaned, it felt like his head was spiltting, he tried to sit 
up. He looked down to see that he was sharing a bed with a woman. 
She had her arms around him, stired by his movment, she blinked 
sleeply up at him . "Goodmorning." 

Sabyien froze looking them both over hew relaxed seeing they were 
both fully dressed... except that his shirt was torn apart and his 
wings were spread wide. he looked at Shana in horror. 

She sat up and pulled back, "I....I promise I won't tell anyone 
about.....them." She said, "They are...beautiful." 
Sabyien sat up, his wings folding. he didn't know what to say. he 
just frowned at her. "What did you do to me lastnight?" 
"I uh...uh, I'm sorry for that...I just don't know my own 
strenght...." Seeing him looking at her with disproval she 
protested. "I was drunk. I didn't know what I was thinking." 
"No, what did you do to me?" 
"I think I used my dynamo techniqe on you...it wasn't supposed to 
knock you out." She shifted over when Sabyien stood up.  'Great' 
Shanna thought, 'I probley have ruined my  chance with him.' 
she hung her head. "I'm sorry....I'm sorry." the last word broke in 
her throat as tears threatened. 
sabyien was angry but he was also a gentleman. he put a hand under 
shanas chin tenderly "I am sorry." He locked eyes with her. the deep 
blues softening his words. "But I am married." He kissed her forehad 
and grabbed a long jacket doing it up and making his way out. 

Her heart was thudding in her throat as she watched him leave. 
Shanna touched the place where he'd kissed her, in awe. 

Sabyien sought out a payphone, it was early in the morning. And Ryo 
was probly beinging to worry about him. He tried serveral times 
without success. The phone-line seemed to be dead. Saby shrugged and 
called a cab instead. 

Ryo sat with lucivar in the hiding place curled up around the boy 
protectively. they were in the basement of an antique shop. he 
looked around carefully. he couldn't believe they actually slept in 
coffins. he smiled at the woman vampire as she brought them a small 
tray of tea. "Eloise say the sun just came up." She told them. "if 
you get bored you can come tend the shop with us." she smiled at 
lucivar. "don't worry hthe display windows are blocked off for our 
kind." 

Eloise was a plump friendly first generation woman she spoke with a 
friendly german accent and had a deep heartening laugh. she smiled 
at lucivar and ryo as they had come up stairs. the female vampire 
Theresa put a comforting hand on the boys shoulder. 

"I have sent out conntacts to your home, I'm sure that Lord Belmont 
will come for you soon."  They spent the morning helping out in the 
shop. El, as they called her, had made Ryo a filling breakfast. 
"Must get big and strong young man." she chuckled, patting his small 
frame. Ryo gave her a wry smile. 
Luciver was inspecting some of the items. "Theresa, do you know what 
a Dhampir is?" 
The vampire stopped what she was doing and stared at him. "Yes, they 
are bred to be vampire hunters....Thought I was told, that they are 
very few in number, most die when they are young. Even if they do 
grow-up, they become overcome with thier own blood-lust." 
"How do you know this? Master Hexen has never told me about them." 
"Our Kind would perfer not to aknowloge them, they are half breeds, 
not worthy of our line." She said, going back to her work. 
"Why?" Luciver tugged on her arm. "Why don't vampires like them?" 
Theresa sighed. "Becuase, in producing one, The vampire has tainted 
himself. Humans are our source of sustance....Would a human couple 
with a cow?" 
Listening Ryo, stopped eating. 
Luciver looked disgused. "But...We've meet one..." 
She gasped, "A Dhampir? How did you manage to get away?" 
Ryo spoke up. "He said his name was Dante..." 
"- Dante....Uhm, You where very lucky. Usally, he only kills in 
self-defence, no vampire had ever survived attacking him. We had 
long since left him alone." She crossed her arms. "Why would he 
suddenly start hunting?" 
"What else do you know about Dante? " Ryo asked. 
"Not much, just rumors...that he is as long-lived as an immortal. 
It's thought that he was born in the 17th centery.  It was even said 
his Vampire Father sinned against god by mixing his blood with a 
Saint...." 

Ryo listened to this and looked down. "I'm.... the new saint.... 
I've married a vampire...." He explained. Theresa touched his face 
gently. 
"A male or female?" 
"Male." 
"Atleast no children can come from your union..." she smiled. "I'm 
sure you two will live long and fulfilled lives." She bent and 
kissed his forehead in respect. "Tell him I still have the book he 
gave me." 
"I will ma'am." Ryo nodded turning to lucivar. 

Dante finally roused himself into wakefulness. the tinted windows 
filtering the sunlight enough that it would not cause him 
discomfort. he looked over his shoulder, frowned, then grabbed the 
blanket pulling it away to expose the empty back seat. with a flurry 
of swears he started the vehicle and drove off searching for the 
two. No one escaped him and lived. 

The phone rang, Dante picked it up. "Shadow, get back to 
headquaters, now!" Donovan was snarling into the phone. 
Dante slamed it down. ::"Damn it"::  The serch for the two boys 
would have to wait. he drove around a corner, heading back. 

He walked in, then stopped in shock when Donovan sent Shanna 
crashing into a wall, a small table smashed to bits when she 
impacted. The Dhampir had to muster years of training not to go and 
aid her up, to keep his face impassive. 
"Where were you two?" Donovan raged, he smelled of smoke and his 
clothes where chared. "Brian and I had to take Belmont on our 
own....Brian is dead becase you two didn't show up! What worse, that 
vampire child has escaped!" 
:: "Donovan, It was the Saint-child, he came and freed the vampire. 
I tried to fight him but he's more powerful then I....":: 
A small tread of metal flowed from Donovan's fingertip, it form into 
a razor sharp piont, which he used to draw a deep cut into Shadow's 
left cheek, the blood flowed down his face. 
"I do not except failre."  Donovan made another cut, crossing the 
first one. Shadow stood unmoving,  "You and Shanna will retrive them 
both....This will be the last time I let you live." Donovan said to 
Shadow in a low voice. 

Shanna pushed herself up from the wall. "its not our damn fault your 
lover got what was coming to him. that stupid ass deserved it." She 
knew brian and donovain weren't actually lovers but they did spend 
aloto f time together an at the moment she didn't care. another 
lashing came. she caught the thread sending electricity through it. 
::'Stop it both of you.':: Dante raged making both their heads ring 
with the power of his mental voice. ::'Stop squabbling like retards 
we have to come up with a plan.':: 

They both stopped what they where doing in total shock. Shadow never 
reacted in such a way. Shanna was the first to step back, she cursed 
under her breath. Donovan forwned. "Her's a plan, you, use your 
telaphy to find the vampire-child, the saint is probly with 
him...since the sun's up now....Shann go with him." Don left the 
room to nurse his wounds. 

Shadow frowned. ::"Problem is... They wouldn't trust me if I  -DID- 
try to contact them.':: 
Shanna shook her head. "Well Try it anyway." 
::'So what did you learn from the guardian? you did spend the night 
with him.':: 
"Nothing happened." she turned with a huff. 
::'got turned down?':: 
"He passed out." She walked away. Dante let out a small taunting 
smile then returned his face to the frown. and set to work trying to 
contact the two. 

Sabyien had gotten to the house finding that part of the house had a 
large back hole in it. The firemen had done thier job. but where was 
everyone?  He ducked in looking for a telephone, it was dead. 
Grumbing, he went the garage and activated the car's cell phone. It 
started to ring. Suprised, Sabyien put it to his ear. "Hello?" 
"Hello? Sabyien? This is Dr. Ky Takahashi, Thank god,I've finally 
got you....Listen,Mr. Belmont and his guest are in fair condtion, I 
had managed to get them outof the ER ward. The other Doctors where 
curoius about thire....physiology. I need you get down to the 
hospital right away." 

Sabyien sighed. 'no rest for the wicked...' he started the car 
backing out and heading off towards the hospital hoping everyone was 
alright. 

"Did you just say my name?" Ryo asked blinking at lucivar. the young 
vamire shook his head. "No why?" 
"I thought i heard someone say it." 

Shanna had put a band-aid on Shadow's face, it looked like he wasn't 
healing as fast, a bad sign. His strenght might be comprmised. 
Shadow nodded, and pointed to the antiuqe shop. the windows where 
borded. He then held up two fingers :: There are two vampires in 
there. one is the child.:: 
Shanna nodded. "Right, kill the other?" 
:: "Not unless she attackes us first, we are to get the Saint and 
the vampire-child.":: 
Dante looked up, it was a cloudless day the sun stung his eyes even 
though he wore dark sunglasses on his face. 

The two hunters entered the store. El looked up at them with a 
cheery smile. "Hello. wha can we do for you today?" She looked at 
them innocently 

The female vampire stood in the back room with ryo and lucivar. she 
froze sensing the halfling. "Boys... quickly... out the back door. 
head down the alley quickly now she whispered setting up mental 
blockades as she pulled thedoor wide. the allety was dark with 
shadows as the buildings had been built close together. "Theres an 
opening to the sewer half way down. you can find your way someplace 
safe from there." 

Dante looked around he could sence nothing of the vampires, either 
they ran away or the adult was old enough to shield them.  :: 
"Shanna, Keep the lady occupid, I'm going to check the back.:: 
Shanna picked up a old glass lamp. "Excuse me, how much for this 
lamp?" 

"That one? Its 29.95." She smiled watching as Dante headed towards 
the baxcck door. "Is there something inparticular you are looking 
after sir?" She saked moving to intercept him. 

Shanna forwened. "Ah, Mam' He's a mute. He can't speak."  Thinking 
quicly, she made a grab for the  cashregister. The Lady heard this 
and she truned away from Dante to stop Shanna from getting any money 
out. 
Dante hurried out the back door. 

El moved quickly. "Don't move." Sh held a revolver with deadly 
accuracy. "I didn't last this long just to get robbed by 
streetopunks like you. she turned the gun on Dante. "Gather your 
lady friend and get the hell out.... Leave the lamp." 

Shanna backed away. Dante stopped and slowly started to walk toward 
the woman with the gun, as if daring her to shoot him. 

She fired she had intended it to only be a warning shot but her aim 
wasn't what it used to be. Dante stumbled to the floor the hole dead 
center of his head. El dropped trhe gun and screamed in horror. 
Dante didn't move. 

Shanna screamed, "Dante!" 

At the sound of the gunshot, both Ryo and Luciver froze and truned. 

The male halfling slowly pushed himself up the bullet lay on the 
floor the only sign that he had been shot was a trail of blood and a 
scar. El saw this and fainted. 

Ryo moved to go back Lucivar grabed his haand. "Come on lets go. i'm 
sure they'll be fine. if she can handle blood lusting vampires i'm 
sure they'll be fine." ryo cast one last look then went to open the 
sewer grate. 

Shanna hurried to Dante's side, lifting him to his feet. "Comeon, 
They porbply getting away." 
feeling a bit dizzy, Dante followed Shanna out the back, She 
forwned. "where?" 
Dante dropped to the ground sniffing, there is was the saint's scent 
on the ground. 

Ryo ran with Lucifer praying they wouldn't fall on the slippery 
flooring, firstly because he didn't want to get caught, secondly 
because it was gross. 
"Left." Lucivar commanded quietly leading them with his heightend 
sight. 

:: "There" :: Dante lifted up the sewer grate. When the female 
vampire jumped out of the shadows, tackling the Dhampir to the 
ground. Shanna jumped intot he fight, managing to get one hand on 
the back of the vampire's neck. she let lose serveral volts into the 
vampire's body. 

the energy caused her muscles on her arms to lock tightening the 
grip around shadows throat. if she was going to die she would take 
him with her. 
::'Shanna stop. Go after the damn kids let me handle her.':: He 
shouted mentally. 

Shanna looked a littel uncertin, but she ran tot he open gate and 
jumped down with a small splash. 

Dante grunting with the effort, got his hands under her 
fingers...slowly prying them from around his neck. he kicked up, 
sending her over his head, coughing, Dante sprang up. 

her hands sealed into fists as the muscles finished tightening. the 
female bvampire rushed at him throwing herself at him. getting him 
into a headlock and using it to throw him into a dumpster side. 

Maddened by the pain, Dante roared, and grabed a hold of the vampire 
around her waist. now or ever, huge black wings un-folded from his 
back and lifted him high intot he air. Dante still had a tight grip 
on the vampire. 
She fought him trying to get free, but the speed at which they rose 
over the shelter of the building. The vampire sreamed as the 
sunlight touched her skin. The Dhampire still had a tight grip on 
her, feeling the body in his arms bruning to ash. 

The female vampire screamed thrashing in his arms she had one last 
chance. with the last of her sthrength she peirced his chest with 
her fangs just peirching his heart. she tasted the blood aslong as 
her fangs stayed in his chest he couldn't heal it and his blood 
would give her atleast enough strength to hold out long enough 
against the sun. 

His streangh was failing, too much blood was being taken from him, 
the blood cuaght fire as it left his wound. his own blood would brun 
him alive. Date saw a water tower a top on e the buildings, he used 
a drop of his blood forming it into a sharp thread which cut out the 
towers supports. it tipped the metal groaning as it dumped it's 
load. The wave of water hit Dante and Theresa, knocking them lose 
and sending the over the ledge of the building. 

In the sewers, Shanna heard  strange noise, she truned to 
look...then started to run even faster. the water had drained from 
above. over flowing, it would drown anyone cuaght in it's wake. 

"Right!" Lucivar shouted hearing the waters rush echoing through the 
cavernous sewer. they came caross a set of stairs leading to higher 
ledges as the tunnel opened to a large storage chamber. the boys ran up them and made their way along the ledge a rusted metal railing 
between them and the fall. ryo was gagging deeply Lucivar shook his 
head not smelling anything because he didn't have to breathe. he 
pushed open a security door that had been left unlocked by the city 
maintenance workers. the boys hid in the small side room. Ryo's 
heart pounded so loudly he was sure the woman could hear it. he knew 
lucivar could by the way the boy was staring at him. 
he whispered. 'First thing when i get home i'm taking a bath for a 
year." 

She was swept up by the water. she  was carried past the ledge and 
she hit a metal ladder coming down fron another manhole. Stuned by 
the impact, she grabed the ladder with one hand, but it was 
slipping. Gasping for breath. She called out. "Help...." 

"The vampie hunter's in trouble..." Lucivar whispered. "Should we 
help them?" 
"I suppose we have to. if we don't we'll be proving her stupuid 
belief about your people right. come on." Ryo pulled the door open 
after taking a deep breath of the less piungent air. 

Spitting out the water from her mouth, Shanna felt something hit her 
legs, almost disloging her grip. Over the roar of the water, she 
picked up foot steps. Truning her head to would be savoirs her call 
for help was cut off when she saw the vampire child and an older boy 
running towards her on the narrow ledge. 

"Hang On!" Ryo called out reaching for the woman. "Grab my hand." He 
called out. Shanna reached but they were too far apart.Ryp stretched 
futher. "Come on Reach!" Lucifer held Ryo's other arm trying to keep 
him from falling too. The torrent of water began to let up but not 
fast enough. with an ominous creak the wrun og the ladder began to 
give way. 

Shanna made a desperate lunge for the outstreached hand, her hand 
closed around the boy's fingers and she got a better grip with her 
other hand on his wrist. 
Ryo pulled, he was pulling against the current of the water and her 
weight. When he got close enough, Luciver helped to pull the hunter 
on to the ledge. 
Coughing, and swiping the water from her face, she watched warily at 
what they would do next. 

Ryo turned to escort lucifer away. "We saved your life, and as 
payment. Leave lucifer and the rest of the vampires alone." 

"I can't do that." Shanna said."Hunting Vampires is the only life 
I've ever known...I don't want to stop untill...." She stopped. and 
looking at thire backs she sighed. "Ok, That squirt is a pretty 
pathatic vampire anyways, He's not worth killing." 
She frowned, when there appeared be no way out from the ledge, other 
then the way they had come from.The hunter found the cleanist bit of 
wall and leaned against it, waiting for the rushing water subside 
enough to escape the sewer. 

Ryo and Lucivar returned to their little hide out the vampire 
pointed to the door a THE TOP OF THE STAIRS. "tHATS a RECLAMRION 
FACITILY BY MY GUESS. IT SHOULD LEAD TO THE SURFACE.... OR A SUBWAY 
DEPENDING ON HOW FAR DOWN WE ARE." 

"Where where you?" Seth asked as Sabyien was admitted into a small 
windowless room, Hexen was seated on a lab stool, sipping blood from 
a plastic bag. All of his wounds where healed, but they couldn't 
just walk out of teh hospital. There was Hexen's 'reaction' to sunlight to consider. 
"I was....indisposed." Sabyien answered carfully 
"Indeed," Seth said evenly."With a woman? Sabyien, I can smell her 
on you." 

"It's nothing like that." Sabyien explained. "She was Drunk and..." 
"Sabyien I expected more from you taking advantage of a young woman 
while she was in such a state." 
"She tried to take advntage of me. she wasn't a normal human. she 
know about- Them." he moved his shoulders. Seth frowned. 

"But what would keep you from retruning? When the vampire hunters 
attacked? If it wheren't for the fire alarm, the whole house would 
have been lost." 
Sabyien's fist tightened, "She...She knocked me out...I ...I..." 
The vampire snorted, "We'll talk about it later. Right now I have to 
get out of here and look for Ryo." 
"Fine." Sabyien walked out the door, almost slaming it. He ran into 
Dr.Takashi, he was pushing a strecher with an empty black body-bag 
on it. "Here, I thought you might need this." 

Sabyien nodded. "Thank you." He smiled at the man. though he 
wondered where they would go now. the house was unsafe, both 
structurely and the fact that the hunters knew where it was. he also 
how to find ryo and lucivar. where could they be? 

Shadow broke the surface of thge wretched water. he swam to the 
ledge and pushed himself up onto the area and vomited he looked up 
and saw shanna on he ledge above him. ::'What the hell are you doing 
up there?!':: he mentally shouted. 
"The saint and that punk vampire saved my life." She replied. 

:: You let them go?":: 
Shanna shrugged. then bent to help Shadow out of the water. The 
albino was barely able to stand, so Shanna thought the boys would 
safe enough from him for now. She left  him to rest following where 
the boy's went. The stairs ended in a alcove, Ryo had Luciver on his 
shoulders they where trying to reatch up and grab the lower rung of 
the ladder. It was much to high for them, and Shanna observed, even 
though one was atop the other. Seeing this she lughed. 
"Your never gotta get out that way." 
Lucvier jumped off of Ryo's shoulders and glared at her. "What are 
you doing here?" 
She frowned, looking down at the little vampire. "Your too short to 
reatch that....maybe if you stop looking at me like I'll help you 
out." 
"How do I trust you?" 
"I let you live...." She said mesuring the distance from the lower 
rung, the ladder normaly would have to have a hooked pole to slid it 
down, but as it was...."Ok, you boy." Shanna pointed to Ryo. "Stand 
on my shoulders, you should be able to grab it." 
Shanna crossed her arms, she coudn't help but grin at the boy's
cleverness. "You are a clever Saint. But would you allow the son of
another Saint die?" She asked. "My compaion is near death, too weak
to give you any trouble."

Ryo sighed in defeat allowing the ladder to fall back into place.
"Lucivar keep going... try to find a place to hide until I come to
find you." he began to climb down loking into the boys eyes. the
young
vampire frowned in dissaproval as if it were an obvious ruse. he
shook
his head and walked away into the darkness. at the bottom of the
ladder ryo turned to shanna. "Take me to him..."

Shanna went back down the stairs to where Shadow was slumped over by
the wall. She shook his gently. "Shadow...I'm going to carry you on
my back, we'll go to the hospital ok?"  No responce from him.
She untied the leather straps from her bondage pants and after
taking off her coat, secured Shadow on her back. She stood up and
waited for Ryo to lead the way out.
Stired by the movment, Shadow groaned, ::"Shanna....those boys...::
"Quiet you." She lightly tapped his head resting on her shoulder.
"Your the one who got us into this.. so shush up." Her voice was
amused, almost gentle.

Ryo smiled at her. "YOu love him don't you." Shana glared at him.
"None of youre business."

"I'm just, repaying the kindness he showed to me." She said.
Though Shadow was hovering in out of conuiosness, he heard this
comment. He could only hope this was true, he was smitten by her
when he first met her. But he'd kept to himself, not knowing what
she'd think if she knew what he was.
He squessed his eyes shut. he send Ryo a privet Message ::"Please
Don't tell her what I am....I promise to leave you and Luciver
alone...just please don't tell her." ::

Ro smiled. "YOu know miss... A vampire hunters life isn't really
something to bring children into..... maybe you should concider
settling down. raising a family, going tinto a job thats less
hazardous to you and whoever you chose to fall for." He smiled at
her, "I \'m sure if he was awake he'd agree after the day you two
have been having, i mean do you really see this as a job that goes
anywhere? running through sewers that smells like ass chasing after
vampires? Really it can't be good for your health and you'll never
kill All the vampires. it just seems a little pointless to me." He
shrugged.

"humph! Like you know anything," Shanna said. "I hate vampires, I
won't stop untill I every single one of them is nothing but ash."
:: "Saint-child,":: Dante again, not letting Shanna hear this. ::
"Her brother was taken by a vampire, There had been word that
Belmont was the cuase of her brother's dissapearnce. She won't stop
unless she finds him." ::

Ryo wrinkled his nose. "Not all vampires are bad. I mean i've married
 one and I couldn't be happier. Of course I also married Sabyien...."
 He blushed. "So i can't help but see that theres no problem. I Suppose
 i haven't been through what you have but.... I had my parents killed by
 a demon. I don't hate them. cause Saby used to be one kinda." He shrugged.
"Thats not the same thing." she turned to the boy intent on really letting
 him have it. "MY brother was my only living relative. He cared for mw when
 i was sick, he proteceted me form others. I was almost killed when he dissapeared so cork it before i make you."
After a few minutes ryo asked. "What... was your brothers name?"
"Draven." her voice was tender. Ryo's eyes went wide.