Written by: Epicstu Wyyvernwriter

Edward put a paw-like foot on the first step of the stairway to Heaven, but no music played. No Angel stood at the top singing to greet him. All light was gone, replaced with a mist of humid darkness.

*          *

“Long ago the father of all Vampires, Count Dracula, saved his children as the 700 Realms disappeared all around them. Lost in the infinite and empty Void Dracula led his children for what had seemed an eternity. He could not even find Heaven nor Hell, but he did found a Realm within the darkness. It was a young Realm, but it had a World within it. This World had life on it, not just any life, Human life. Trillions of lives, just like the World they had lost. Dracula saw this World as fertile and took it for himself and his children. Like a parasite they had nearly drained the World of its blood by the time I had arrived,” the Archangel Michael said to Vladamir as he lay dying under the hole his fall had made in the ceiling of the Church. “It was then that I met your mother. Zurina was truly singular among her people, she cared about humanity and did not wish them harm. However, even united we knew we would be no match for Dracula, so we left this World vowing to return with help. We found help, though he was not what we had hoped for, he was what we needed. The Wyyvern of Undeath forged that sword,” Michael pointed to Alexandra, “of the Archangel of humanity’s soul trapped within her own tears and infused with the blood of the Wyyvern of Vampirism. With it, your mother had complete control over all Vampires and even prevented Dracula from influencing the minds of humanity. We should have killed him then, but Zurina banished Dracula to the Void instead.” Michael coughed harshly, golden blood spewing from his mouth. “I’m so sorry my son, I never wanted this life for you and neither did your mother.” Pulling Vladamir close to him, Michael spoke his final breath wishing he could say more, “Only you, with that sword, can slay Dracula.”

Vladamir cradled his father’s limp body in his arms, “Nothing dies forever right? He’ll come back,” he held his father close, “bring him back!” he screamed to the skies.

*          *

Edward could hear the cries of pain and feel tears being shed for a fallen Archangel from the pearly gates of Heaven where he stood. If he did not do something soon he feared Zesrial may be lost as well. He knocked heavily, but no one inside could hear him. The gates were as heavyset stone slabs  and would not budge no matter how hard Edward pushed. To touch them burned him and he fell to his knees. “Please,” he sobbed, “let me in,” but Hell can never enter Heaven.

*          *

“Hold him!” Zesrial shouted, but even with all her strength Dracula easily broke free of Snow’s hold on him.

Flicking his wrist, Dracula sent Snow flying towards the pearly gates, “Out of my way.” Then he picked Zesrial up by the throat an began to squeeze, “You will find your Deathperk does not work against me,” he said with a vicious grin. Heaven had been beautiful, now she was in ruins. “Now you fall, now I rise.”

*         *

By the time Katherine had arrived at New Cathedral, the city was already burning. She could here Slim’s maniacal laughter echoing through the ruins as she searched for any survivors. “Go!” she told them as she used her disk to clear a path for them by moving the city itself apart into sections. She had a plan. Her father and she once played a board game called Divide and Conquer, “Slim!” she shouted, “come and face me! Or are you afraid of a challenge?” Slim’s ear twitched at the taunt and he turned his attention to Katherine.

The Four Sergal Elders had gotten Queen Elizabeth to safety along with a few others, but still, there had been many casualties. “First Collin, then Ember, and now my city, and now my people,” Elizabeth fell to her knees and covered her tear soaked Human face with her Northlandish Fennec paw-like hands. Then she saw her city come apart into disks of every element rhythmically, but with no music, as her people poured out and ran to her.

She ran to them and hugged the women and children. “Ma’am,” panted one of the Human men. “Its a rabbit, or maybe a cat, I don’t know, but she’s using Sergal Magic. She’s fighting back.”

“Its true,” Dolan interrupted. Then she saw the smile on Elizabeth’s face and blushed. They had not seen each other since he had left “Ma’am,” he smiled back and bowed his head to her.

“That’s my daughter!” Elizabeth recognized a voice she had not heard in years as Jessy came from behind her with a worrisome hug, “Jack is dead,” Jessy explained. “Elizabeth please, she is all I have left.”

Elizabeth stood up and spoke so all could hear her, “then let us lend her a hand. Let everyone who can fight come with me! The barracks may yet be intact!” Her people shouted with approval, “This is our city and I will not let her go quietly! Who’s with me?!” her people cheered as she led them back into the burning city.

*          *

“I’m sorry,” said a voice Vladamir did not recognize. “Dracula killed him, because of the nature of that, there is nothing that can be done.”

Vladamir turned to face the one who spoke, “Are you the Wyyvern of Undeath?”

“Yes,” Stu replied.

“Then bring him back!” Vladamir demanded, standing up and pointing the business end of Alexandra at the black sabertooth corpse of a cat that levitated before him.

Stu waved his hand, and Alexandra was forced to the ground, disarmed from her wielder. “When Dracula kills he drinks your very soul,” he replied. “There is nothing left to resurrect.” Waving his hand again, he allowed Alexandra to return to her wielder, “put an end to him, once and for all. It is your job to wipe away the sins of your mother’s father, Wyyvern Knight. Be better. Prove to me that your kin are more than just blood-sucking parasites or I will ensure that you are the last of them.”

The Wyyvern of Undeath left the Realm leaving Vladamir alone, “Wait! How do I get him!” but there was no answer. Just a loud clap as something was thrown into the Realm and sent hurtling towards his World.