Chapter One:  The Players' Entrance

Year: 1990
Place: Romania

*

	The black wall of mist materialized behind Croden just as he reached =
the outskirts of the Vrogden. It appeared from nowhere, as if it had =
sprouted from the night itself. Its sweeping length spanned the border =
of the entire region, forming an impenetrable shell of darkness around =
Castlevania and the town that surrounded it. Only the moon shone through =
the vile barrier, shining silver light down upon Croden's malicious =
eyes.
	Hmph, he thought to himself. So the Countess makes her first move. No =
matter, she is too late. Her pathetic spell may keep her safe from the =
outside, but not from ME.
	His hideous laughter erupted from deep within his massive frame, and =
resounded throughout the pitch-black night. When his laughter ceased, =
Croden launched himself into a wild dash across the countryside, his =
claws scraping along the hard, frozen dirt.

**

	Things were not going too well for the Chief Inspector. The week had =
started off well enough: there was the occasional mugging and burglary, =
as well as several car accidents that resulted in death. But those =
incidents were commonplace in all towns the size of Vrogden. With a =
population of twelve thousand, it was a wonder why the crime rate was so =
low here. It was a good place to live, ever since Nicolae Ceausescu's =
regime lost power about a year ago.
	That relative tranquility ended three days ago. It began with someone =
knocking down the town's telephone lines. No one in the department could =
figure out who had done it. Many suspected local vandals; but before a =
proper investigation could be performed, a giant castle materialized on =
a hillside just outside of town. It was a massive, ugly thing. All could =
see its malevolent shape from miles around. Nobody knew what it was, and =
those sent to investigate it never returned.
The mayor called a state of emergency; unfortunately whatever the castle =
was, it seemed to affect everyone's radios. This meant that with the =
radio and telephone lines down, Vrogden was left completely isolated. If =
the town needed help, they could not get it. They were alone.
Numerous reports of monster sightings soon flooded the dispatch. On the =
outskirts of town, the mutilated bodies of farmers were found in their =
homes. Strange howls and noises could be heard during the night. Many of =
the citizens became deathly afraid and stayed in their homes; a curfew =
was maintained.
Then, the unthinkable happened. A school bus, bound for the local =
elementary school and filled with students, vanished one day. The whole =
town was in a panic: the parents of the missing children screamed at the =
mayor to do something; the mayor screamed at the Chief Inspector to do =
something; The Chief screamed at his sergeants to do something. All =
people seemed to do was scream. It was a prelude of what was to come.
All hell broke loose about five minutes ago. The Chief Inspector, having =
only slept forty-five minutes during the last three days, was napping at =
his desk when the screams and gunfire awoke him. Still groggy, he leapt =
from his desk and out of his office into the hallway, forgetting to take =
his gun with him. He found the lights out in the entire station house; =
only the silver glow of the moon illuminated the hall from the three =
high windows to his right.=20
The Chief bumped into a young constable, and asked him what in hell was =
going on. The young man seemed as dazed as he was; heavy bags ringed his =
blue eyes.
"I don't know, sir. I was asleep. I just heard screams and shooting."
The Chief nodded and motioned the constable to follow him downstairs to =
the lower levels of the station. As they descended the stairwell, the =
Chief could not help but shudder at the police station's green walls. =
The structure used to be a government building that housed a branch of =
the Securitate, the secret police; there were many rumors as to what =
went on in between these walls during those days. In fact, several =
political prisoners who were held here disappeared without a trace; God =
only knows what became of them. In the dark the walls seemed to writhe, =
as if the souls of victims past were trying to push their way out and =
escape.
He was snapped out of his reverie by the sound of gunfire from down the =
stairs.
	"Move!" He shouted to the constable behind him. The two ran down the =
flight of stairs towards the open doorway leading to the first floor. As =
he crossed the threshold, the Chief suddenly remembered his gun, =
forgotten in his office's desk drawer.
	That was his last thought, as a very large spike pierced his left eye =
and exited out the other side of his head.

	Gregor screamed as the demon rammed the spike through the Chief =
Inspector's head. He slipped on something wet, and fell hard on his =
back. Momentarily stunned, he lay on the floor panting as he watched the =
monster pull its weapon from the Chief's lifeless body.=20
	The creature stood over the corpse, with what could be perceived as a =
smile. He wasn't really sure if it was a smile or not, since the monster =
didn't have a face. Come to think of it, it didn't have much of =
anything; it was just a skeleton. Its bones were yellowed from age and =
it wore rusted armor upon its rotted frame. When it noticed Gregor, its =
perceived smile seemed to widen. It lifted its spike, the point aimed at =
the young constable's chest.
	Gregor screamed. He closed his eyes and awaited death's arrival.=20
	Suddenly, he heard a loud screech and then an explosion. He felt dust =
and debris fall upon him. When he opened his eyes, the demonic skeleton =
was gone; all that was left of it were bits of bone and armor. Standing =
over the creature's remains was probably the most beautiful woman Gregor =
had ever seen.
	She was tall, blonde and sported a whip. A tattered brown jacket, blue =
jeans, and leather boots covered her athletic frame. A short sword with =
a thin, sharp blade was strapped to her hip, and a leather pouch was =
slung over one shoulder. Her eyes were a dazzling green, even in the =
dark. Her pale, high-cheek boned face was framed by long golden hair =
that was tied back into a ponytail. She was a vision; she was an angel.
	"You all right?" her voice was like manna from heaven.
	Gregor could only nod dumbly. The woman then ran off, leaving him to =
himself. The constable smiled, awonder at his luck for being saved by =
such a beauty. He then realized that the slippery substance he had =
slipped on was the intestines of a fellow officer whose dismembered body =
were only a few feet away from him. He quickly forgot about the angel as =
he promptly threw up.

	Lissette Schneider stalked through the ruined police station, looking =
for survivors and slaying any of Dracula's minions she came across. At =
every room in the building, she found dead policemen. By the looks of it =
though, the local constables had put up a good fight; several of the =
Count's monsters were scattered about, killed by well-placed shots. But =
the men were outmatched and outnumbered. Except for the officer she had =
saved, it seemed that most, if not all of Vrogden's police force was =
dead.
	Damn it, she thought. If only I'd gotten here sooner.
	She had set forth from her home in Lascaux as soon as rumors of =
Castlevania's arrival were reported. She reached Romania in less than =
six hours, but it took her almost two days to find the castle. Although =
she knew of the general area of where Castlevania was supposed to have =
appeared, she did not know the specific location. Only when she checked =
the local papers did she find something of interest. It seemed that =
strange occurrences had been reported from the region surrounding the =
town of Vrogden. Livestock had been mutilated, and what's more, all =
communication lines to the town had been cut. She knew she had found her =
target.
	After a long ride in the back of a farmer's truck, she arrived at the =
main road leading into Vrogden. The driver would not go any nearer to =
the town, citing ill portents. Lissette had no choice but to continue on =
foot. She walked about two miles before being set upon by Hell Hounds. =
It was her first battle with supernatural foes, but her extensive =
training in the Belmont trade paid off. She destroyed the vile animals =
and continued down the road. On her way there, she spotted the numerous =
public service and police vehicles that had been sent to investigate the =
downed phone lines. There were no signs of their occupants, but the =
blood staining the road left little doubt that the men were dead.=20
	Lissette arrived in Vrogden just as the massacre in the police station =
began. She heard screams and gunfire, and followed her ear to the scene =
of the slaughter. The policemen had no chance; without the aid of her =
special sight, the constables saw Dracula's minions as ordinary people, =
probably fellow officers. They couldn't have known what they were until =
it was too late. She arrived at the sight several minutes into the =
fight. She managed to save one policeman, but the rest were dead.
	If only I'd gotten here in time...
	The vampire killer searched the entire station house, fighting and =
killing all of the evil monsters inside. The minions of darkness, who up =
until a few minutes ago were hunting down the fleeing policemen, were =
now being hunted themselves. Lissette fought mercilessly; none of the =
creatures that challenged her that night lived to fight a rematch.=20
	She had just finished slaying a lizard man when a loud voice called her =
from outside: "Belmont! We know you're in there! Come on out!"
	Lissette carefully moved to a window and sneaked a peak outside. =
Standing in the center of the station parking lot were two men and a =
group of monsters. One of the men had the other in a vicious headlock. =
Her special sight told her that the man holding the hostage was a =
vampire.
	"Come out, hunter!" Shouted the vampire. "You wouldn't want me to break =
this human's neck, do you?" To improve his point, the vamp tightened his =
grip on his prisoner. The captive, who was wearing a blue constable's =
uniform, grunted and struggled to no avail.
	Lissette held a breath and exhaled it slowly. She calmed herself, and =
emptied her thoughts to maintain a clear head. She would need to be in =
total control for the battle ahead.=20
	She opened the window and leapt outside onto the concrete floor of the =
lot. Her boots made a soft thud on the ground as she landed, which was =
impressive since she leapt from the building's third floor.
	"Excellent display," said the vampire. He smiled, displaying long white =
fangs. "You must truly be a Belmont, then. Goody."=20
	Lissette crept slowly towards the group of monsters. She kept her whip =
rolled up in her right had; she did not want any harm to come to the =
hostage. The vampire, whose long black hair clashed with his tailored =
white suit, suddenly laughed.
	"Oh, my. A woman." The vampire seemed to relax a bit. His once tense =
muscles relaxed under the linen suit. "Quite the looker, too. Well, my =
dear. Allow me to introduce myself. I am Anthony Scarapelli. As you have =
probably noticed, I am a vampire. Impressed?"
	The vampire hunter stopped within a few feet from the group. "No. But I =
suppose you are."
	The vampire laughed again. "My, my. You are charming. A trait I would =
not have expected from a Belmont."
	Lissette tightened her grip on the whip. She kept her breathing at an =
even pace.=20
	"Tell me, uh, I'm sorry.... I am afraid I do not have the pleasure of =
knowing your name." Scarapelli smiled; all the while his captive =
struggled vainly in his arms.
	"Lissette Schneider."
	"Well, Lissette. Lovely name, by the way." The vampire winked before =
continuing. "Well, Lissette, I am in a bind. I have before me the sworn =
enemy of my master, Count Dracula. I have sworn to kill all those who =
would dare to oppose the Lord of Evil. But, I find myself totally =
infatuated with you. Yes, I am. Completely. What am I to do? Any =
suggestions?" His smile never wavered.
	"I suggest that you let that man go."
	"Who? Him?" Scarapelli pointed to the man in his arms. "He's nothing, =
why give him any thought?"
	Lissette's eyes narrowed. "Because.... He's the only thing keeping you =
alive."
	The vampire's smile disappeared. "Is that right? Well, I'm sorry, =
Lissette. But you have crossed the cute line." Scarapelli tightened his =
grip on the man's neck until it broke; Lissette flinched at the sound of =
the crack. The vampire dropped the lifeless body to the ground. "I don't =
think I like you anymore."
	The other monsters in the group began to converge around Lissette. They =
kept their distance as they surrounded her, but each was within striking =
distance.
	Scarapelli's smile returned. "I think I'll just brutally torture and =
murder you. Is that all right with..."?
	Before the vampire could finish his words, Lissette flung up the whip =
and whirled it around her head in a wide 360-degree arc. The creatures =
around her screamed as their heads were sliced off by the weapon. All =
were killed except for Scarapelli, who ducked in the nick of time.
	The vampire roared in fury. With glowing eyes, he launched himself at =
Lissette. She narrowly dodged him as he flew through the air past her. =
Scarapelli landed in a crouch, but a few seconds later leapt again. He =
twirled madly in the air ten feet over her head and landed a few feet =
behind. She twirled around just as he hurled himself at her. She quickly =
withdrew her short sword as the vampire closed in.
	Lissette sunk the metal blade straight into Scarapelli's chest, just a =
few inches shy of the heart. The vampire howled in pain, his agony =
causing him to sink to his knees. The vampire hunter pulled out the =
sword in one quick, easy motion. She then nonchalantly wiped off the =
blade on the vampire's suit.
	A widening red stain covered the front of Scarapelli's once clean =
outfit. Still on his knees, he looked up at Lissette with horror and =
confusion in his eyes. "I.... I'm not healing..."
	"Of course not." Lissette's voice was completely absent of pity and =
emotion. She resheathed her sword before saying, "Among the Belmont's =
powers is our ability to slay vampires in any fashion. I didn't have to =
pierce your heart or cut your head off to kill you; if I had a gun, it'd =
probably work on you."
	Blood began to drip from the sides of Scarapelli's mouth. "D-damn =
you..."
	Lissette smiled and started to laugh, as if what the vampire had said =
was the funniest thing in the world.
	Scarapelli collapsed onto his back, the blood from his wound pooling =
around him. "K-kill.... Kill me..."
	"What for? You're already dead, vampire." Her cold green eyes locked =
onto his. "Besides, I wouldn't be so eager to die if I were you. Hell =
awaits you and it is, I hear, not a very pleasant place to be in." With =
those words, she began to walk away.
	Scarapelli screamed at Lissette in hatred. He couldn't form any =
coherent words, as the pain from his wound had gotten to be too much.
	"Don't worry," the vampire killer called back. "You won't be alone in =
Hell. I'll be sending your master there to you very soon."

***

	Joseph lay on the concrete, feeling his life slowly drain out of him.=20
	So, he thought. What happens now? Do I slowly disappear, or will I stay =
like this forever?
	He listened to the monsters fight the girl they called a "Belmont." =
After a while, the fighting stopped and silence returned. Joseph just =
lay there, unable to move, his neck broken, his life seeping out of him.
	He remembered his wife, Anna, and their baby, Chris. He hoped they were =
okay.
	He remembered his parents, Boris and Katrina. He hoped they were okay.
	He remembered his dog, Niki. He hoped she was okay.
	Most of all, he remembered the attack which took place just fifteen =
minutes ago. He remembered how fellow policemen suddenly turned into =
monsters and started to kill everyone. He remembered shooting several of =
the monsters, and probably some of his own men, in the chaos of the =
station house. It was a mad panic to get out of that horrible place of =
death, to run and be free and get back to one's family. Now, he will =
never see them again. It was so unfair; he had just gotten his life back =
together.=20
	Goodbye, Nikki.
	He had only quit drugs two years ago.
	Goodbye, Momma, Poppa.
	He had just gotten a promotion.
	Goodbye little Chris. Goodbye, beloved Anna.
	He had just gotten a baby.
	Goodbye life.
	As Joseph was feeling the last drops of his soul trickle out of his =
body, he began to hear music. It was a sad and haunting melody, playing =
softly at first but growing louder as the seconds ticked away. It was as =
if whoever played the strange tune was slowly approaching him.
	Violin! Yes, the instrument playing the music was a violin. Joseph =
listened to the beautiful song draw near. From the corner of his eye he =
thought he could see a purple glow slowly approach. The light soon =
solidified into a small form, that of a boy.=20
The boy, about ten years of age and wearing nineteenth century garb, =
drew closer. As the child approached the violin grew louder and louder. =
When he finally stood over the fallen policeman, the music became almost =
deafening.
	Who are you? Asked Joseph, as his life force faded.
	The instrument of our vengeance, answered the boy.
	A bright light surrounded Joseph and the child, until it faded and the =
child was gone.

	Malus opened his eyes.
	Eyes!
	He slowly moved his arms and legs.
	Limbs!
	He took a deep, loud breathe.
	Air! Air!
	Malus stood up for the first time in over a century. He looked around =
the station parking lot, at the remains of the monsters, and at the =
sinister castle in the distance.=20
	A moan brought his attention to a bloody heap a few feet next to him. =
Malus used his new feet to walk over to Anthony Scarapelli's dying form. =
He stood over the vampire's body for a while, listening to its loud =
gasps for breath. Scarapelli soon noticed him and squealed in shock. He =
tried to form words, but the blood spewing from his mouth prevented it. =
Malus didn't need him to talk, as he understood his thoughts just the =
same.
	I killed you! How is this possible?
	"I don't know you," he answered.
	Without another word, Malus pointed his left hand at Scarapelli's prone =
form. His palm started to glow with a strange, purple light.=20
	What are YOU?
	"I am nothing."
	Suddenly, a blast of violet-white light shot forth from Malus's hand =
and engulfed the vampire. When it subsided, nothing was left of =
Scarapelli except a smoking pile of ashes.
	With that task done, Malus walked off into the night. As he wandered =
through the deserted streets and alleyways, the darkness around him =
seemed to withdraw, as if it were afraid.=20

****

	The Countess gazed down upon the events of the small town from the tall =
heights of Castlevania. Within her mind's eye she had seen the arrival =
of the man-beast and the Belmont's slaughter of the troops she had sent =
into Vrogden. She also felt the presence of something else: a mysterious =
and unknown power just recently born.
	An amused smile formed on her lips. My, my, she thought. So these are =
the next bunch of fools to challenge the might of Dracula. Let them =
come. It will be a pleasure to bathe in their blood.
	A sudden knock on her chamber door interrupted her thoughts. A short, =
lanky man wearing a lab coat and glasses entered the room. He bowed low =
before saying, "Greetings, Elizabeth. Any news on Scarapelli's raid?"
	"Good evening, my beloved doctor," The Countess curtsied low in return =
to the doctor's bow; she smiled at the other's embarrassed flush. "You =
look tired, my love. Please, have a drink." She motioned to a bucket =
with various human body parts sticking out of it. The doctor politely =
refused. "No? Suit yourself."
	The Countess returned her attentions to the window, and the view of =
Vrogden beneath it. She remained silent for a while, as if stuck with a =
mental dilemma. She smiled suddenly and turned towards the doctor. =
"Scarapelli is dead, by the way. A Belmont attacked him and killed =
everyone else in his group."
	The doctor did a double take. "Dead? Are you sure? And by a Belmont?"
	The Countess glided over to a couch on the far wall and sat upon its =
velvet pads with the fluid grace of a serpent. "Yes. But the Belmont =
didn't kill him. Something else got to him, something strong."
	"Another Belmont?"
	"No." Her soft, red eyes met the doctor's. "Someone else is out =
there.... And a man-beast stalks the night as well."
	"What?" The doctor slicked back a strand from his unkempt hair. "Three =
of them? Are you sure?"
	"Oh yes, my love. I feel the presence of three formidable adversaries." =
The Countess picked up a nearby goblet of red wine. "They seek to stop =
our Lord's resurrection."
	"Then we must stop them." A low, gravelly voice came out of the shadows =
from the far corner of the room. The doctor jumped at the sound, while =
the Countess merely smiled.
	"So, it's you. I was wondering when you'd show up." She took a sip from =
the goblet as a dark hooded figure emerged from the gloom; its skeletal =
arms were crossed over its chest, and its massive black wings flapped =
once before refolding behind its back. The doctor took an involuntary =
step backwards.
	"Dr. Aaron Renfield, meet Death." The hooded figure nodded its head. =
"Well! Now that you're here, it seems that all the players have =
arrived."
	"No," replied Death. "The most important has yet to come."
	"Yes, of course. My uncle." The Countess finished the contents of the =
goblet and got up to refill it.
	"When shall our master arise?"
	Elizabeth Bartley regarded Death for the first time since his arrival. =
The left corner of her lip rose slightly as she said, "On the rise of =
the Blood Moon, in three days' time. But that is only be the beginning, =
old friend. When Dracula is reborn, his powers shall be greater than it =
has ever been. With my uncle's powers at their zenith, this pathetic =
world will fall under the might of darkness! The human race shall meet =
their doom, and we will take our rightful places as masters of =
existence!"
	Lightning struck outside, which added to the dramatic tension in her =
words. When the moment passed, the Countess went over to the drinks =
trolley and popped open a bottle of champagne. "Drinks, anyone?"


To be continued...