Part 13

Dawn breaks as Aylin remains with Noah, who is still slumbering deeply.


His fever broke during the night while Aylin was still holding his hand. Saint Germain told her it would be best if she stayed by his side in the event that he wakes up.

She sits in silence, waiting. She thinks about all the memories they have made together so far. Most of them were so good, it pains her to think that perhaps they may never make more.
She tries to push these thoughts from her mind. The optimism that comes so naturally to her is now at odds with reality.

"Ungh..."

She looks up, thinking she is hearing his voice again.
She still isn't even sure that last night really happened. Perhaps her longing to hear him say something is causing auditory hallucinations.

He moves his limbs slowly and painfully as he wakes.
"Ngh..." He groans.
His eyes are now open and he looks at the ceiling.
"Noah!" Aylin jumps from her chair causing it to screech back on the floorboards. She puts her hands to her chest in surprise.
"Noah, oh my God! Wait... wait here--I'll get Saint Germain!" She runs stumbling from the room.
Where would I go? Noah wonders.
The pain in his body is excruciating.

It takes every ounce of his strength to move his weakened body into a sitting position.
He feels confused and exhausted.
What happened to me?
He tries to remember.

Memories of that night come flooding back to him.

Aylin and Saint Germain hurriedly enter the room, interrupting his waking nightmare.

Saint Germain lights candles as Aylin takes her seat beside the bed once more.
"Noah... we're so happy you're awake! You slept for two days straight. We were worried you might not wake up for a long time..." Aylin's voice wobbles as she talks. She tries to swallow the tears she feels coming.

"I feared the worst when I found you," Saint Germain says sincerely, "I am relieved that you seem to be recovering quickly."

Noah moves to sit on the edge of the bed, but it takes a lot of effort and everyone flinches at the sight of his pain.
"Don't get up, Noah," says Aylin, "You're still injured and you need rest!"
"I am okay, Aylin." His voice isn't very reassuring however.

"Can you describe the being who attacked you?" Saint Germain asks. He knows the wounds are still fresh in the boy's mind, but it's imperative they get to the truth.
"Yes," Noah replies. His eyes are downcast but his voice is clear and he doesn't hesitate to describe his assailant in detail.
"He looked identical to the vampire we caught by accident in the alleyway."
He is silent for a moment before coming clean about the most important fact of all.
"He... saw me. As we were running away, I--I stumbled and fell. He looked directly into my face."
Noah suddenly seems frightened, as if reliving the terror that night.
"He said I was spying on him. I suppose he came to get his revenge."
Saint Germain listens to the boy's story intently, his expression unchanging.

He looks away from Noah and considers his words.
"It is clear that he planned to end your life to keep his identity a secret," he finally says. "I think it is safe to assume that he believes he succeeded in his task. Few people would survive an attack such as this."
Saint Germain sighs.
"All of this is most unfortunate. If only I had been here when he first visited the mansion, we could have avoided this situation altogether."
Noah looks up in shock.
Visited the mansion...
Then he remembers; Saint Germain had told them the stranger who came calling was possibly the rogue vampire they'd heard rumors about.
His stomach drops at the realization that he invited this danger into their home in the first place.

All of a sudden, the door to Noah's bedroom opens, and a dark figure walks in.

The door closes behind the stranger. His eyes glow an unnatural shade of green. He is clearly not human.
Both Aylin and Noah stare at the man. They have not met him before.
"Can't say I agree, Saint," the stranger says, "Even if your mortal friend here hadn't gotten involved, the fact is that this guy is becoming a major pain in the ass."

Saint Germain regards the stranger for a moment before introducing him to the other two people in the room.
"Miss Aylin, Mr. Grace. Please allow me to introduce Luka. He was a subordinate of mine while I was employed in the Order."
The two look at Saint Germain, confused. Seeing the look on their faces, he continues.
"The Order is something not unlike a human law enforcement agency or intelligence bureau, except as a rule, they generally try not to interfere in human business."
Aylin and Noah gawk at Saint Germain. This is the first time they have ever heard of such an organization, let alone the fact that Saint Germain was once a member of it.
"I have asked Luka to look into this man who has attacked Mr. Grace."
He turns to him.
"I trust you've found something useful?"

"Indeed," the man named Luka replies, "The guy's name is Wolfgang. I did a little digging and it turns out he's holding his roommates hostage in San Myushino. They haven't been seen in almost a week."
He fidgets with his right hand a little as he talks. Saint Germain has ordered no smoking in the mansion.
"As annoying as this is," he continues, "it gets worse. Apparently the guy has an obsession with a woman named Karina Moreno. They've been spotted together several times, including the night you met him at Slayers, Saint. She seems to be his main objective. Our speculations are that he's trying to get stronger in the hopes that it'll win her over somehow. Any way you look at it, he's just a dumbass kid. Unfortunately, he's a dumbass who'll kill to get what he wants."

Aylin's eyes shoot open.
"K-Karina Moreno?!" she says, her face turning pale and sweat beading on her forehead.
"She's... my aunt!"

Saint Germain snaps to attention.

Luka stops his report. The gears in his head turn as he comes up with an idea.
"If what you're saying is true," he says, "then we may have an unforeseen advantage."

Saint Germain shifts uncomfortably.

"W-what do you mean?" she asks, looking back and forth at Luka and Saint Germain, a desperate expression on her face.
Luka doesn't hold back in his answer.
"I mean, we'll lure him into a trap."
Aylin's heart races even quicker than before. She thinks she can see where this conversation is going.
"With your aunt's cooperation, I think we can bring him to a secluded location where Saint can move in and take him down," Luka says confidently. "Of course, this all depends on you. Will you help us?"
Aylin stares at the dark man's face in stunned silence.
The man who attacked Noah... is also after Karina?
She remembers seeing Noah's body on the bed, holding his cold hands in hers, not knowing if she'd ever hear his voice again. She imagines seeing Karina the same way--or perhaps, even worse.

"Okay... Yes, I'll do it." Aylin's voice has a finality to it.
Her trademark bravery has returned, and Noah's heart sinks into his stomach.
"I cannot abide by this, Aylin," he says quietly. "I cannot let you risk your life and that of your aunt's just for a mere chance that we may stop this monster."
I know what his strength is like... I know what could happen to all of you if you fail.
"Noah, he almost killed you and he may do the same thing to a member of my family. Don't you think I should do something to help if I can?" Aylin's voice trembles.
He doesn't look her in the eye, but he can tell that she doesn't like what he is saying. Even so, he has to say his piece.
"If you are choosing to do this because you are feeling guilty and self-sacrificial, please know that I do not hold you responsible for what happened to me, nor do I wish you to put yourself in needless danger for others. Associating yourself with this criminal will only lead to more trouble," Noah says, dismayed.
Aylin looks at the back of Noah's head, anger and frustration rising in her chest.
"I'm not doing this out of guilt. I only want to protect the people I care about."

"Miss Aylin," Saint Germain says delicately, "As unfortunate as this situation is, this may be our last peaceful option. If you are willing to have your aunt meet with us, then please do so."

She is silent as she mulls over her decision.
She recognizes the danger, but she also knows the destruction this monster is capable of.
She has faith in Saint Germain to bring it to an end.
"I'll call her," she says.

The tension in the room is thick.
Saint Germain and Luka stand in the midst of it, and Noah says nothing, resigning himself to whatever fate might lay before them.

"Very well," says Saint Germain, "We move tonight."

Continue to Part 14...