## Chapter 1 — Collector Contacted Night City had survived another night. So had everyone at the Watson safehouse. Ace considered both facts worth celebrating. Especially the second. She stood in the kitchen wearing an oversized shirt, holding a mug of coffee and watching Mai examine a small collection of documents on her tablet. "Darling." "Yes?" "Tell me you're not researching another ancient supernatural disaster before breakfast." Mai looked up. "I'm researching an astronomical instrument." "That's what I said." "It's not necessarily supernatural." "That's what you said about the last one." Shammy, seated beside Mai with her own coffee, smiled. "Technically, love, Abigail was not an astronomical instrument." Ace pointed at her. "Don't help." "I wasn't trying to." "You were smiling." "I often smile when you're making an excellent argument." Mai laughed. Ace narrowed her eyes. "I'm surrounded by traitors." From beneath the kitchen table came a soft, distinctly feminine voice. "Beloved traitors, though." Ace looked down. Nine golden-tipped tails moved lazily across the floor. Yukari lay curled beneath the table in her fox form, apparently considering the entire household's morning routine an elaborate performance staged for her personal entertainment. "Especially you," Ace informed her. Yukari opened one golden eye. "I haven't done anything." "Yet." "An unnecessarily suspicious distinction." "An entirely justified distinction." Yukari closed her eye again. "I love this family." Shammy reached down and scratched behind one of the fox's ears. "We love you too." The tails began moving a little faster. Ace sighed. "Hopeless." She was still smiling when her agent chimed. Once. A familiar priority notification. Mai glanced at the incoming contact identification. "Rogue." Ace looked toward the ceiling. "Of course." She accepted the message. Three words appeared. Collector contacted. For several seconds, the kitchen was silent. Then Ace slowly lowered her coffee. "No." Mai read the message. Shammy leaned closer. Yukari opened both eyes. Ace looked around the table. "No. Absolutely not. We just finished dealing with a dead woman who couldn't decide whether she wanted to stay dead." Mai placed her tablet down. "We did finish, darling." "And we still have that ridiculous Starfold thing to investigate." "Only preliminarily." "That's worse. Preliminary investigations are how our problems reproduce." Yukari emerged from beneath the table. "Perhaps this one will be pleasant." Ace stared at her. "Have you ever met Collector?" "Yes." "Then you know better." Yukari stretched, each movement impossibly graceful. "I rather like him." "Of course you do." "He makes excellent tea." Shammy nodded. "He does." Mai checked the second notification. "Rogue wants us at Afterlife this afternoon." Ace closed her eyes. "Please tell me this isn't another object that causes people to die in creative ways." Shammy tilted her head. "We haven't been told what the object is." "Exactly." Mai smiled. "Perhaps we should hear the offer first." Ace looked between her lovers. Then at Yukari. The fox looked entirely innocent. Which, in Ace's considerable experience, meant absolutely nothing. "Fine," Ace said. She picked up her coffee. "But if this thing turns out to be another bell, I'm charging him double." By midafternoon, the familiar entrance to Afterlife welcomed them with its customary combination of expensive security, controlled noise and mercenaries attempting to look more dangerous than they actually were. Ace, Mai and Shammy entered together. Rogue was already waiting in her booth. Her gray hair caught the subdued lighting as she glanced up from a tablet. "Sit." Ace smiled. "Wonderful to see you too." "Coffee?" "Now you're speaking my language." Rogue signaled for drinks. The three women settled into their familiar places. For a moment, Rogue studied them. "Abigail's situation remains stable." Mai nodded. "Good." "No additional incidents. No unusual activity at the cemetery." Shammy smiled faintly. "I'm pleased." "So is Collector." Ace raised an eyebrow. "Considering what happened in his garden, I'd imagine he is." Rogue set her tablet down. "He's also quite satisfied with your work." "That sounds dangerous." "It usually is." Mai laughed quietly. Rogue opened a secured file. "Before we get to the new request, the Starfold investigation is on hold. Preliminary material remains available, but Collector isn't authorizing an acquisition yet." Ace blinked. "Really?" "Really." "So we don't have to deal with a mysterious mechanical atlas?" "Not today." Ace leaned back. "Best news I've heard all week." Rogue continued without reacting. "He has another priority." Ace stopped smiling. Mai noticed. Shammy most certainly noticed. Rogue enjoyed the silence for approximately three seconds. Then she turned the tablet around. A photograph appeared. An old drinking vessel. Silver, or perhaps silver-gilt, heavily tarnished. Its shape suggested considerable age, though the surviving image was too poor to establish much beyond its general design. Ace examined it. "A cup." Rogue nodded. "A goblet." "A fancy cup." "An extremely fancy cup." Mai leaned forward. "Origin?" "Wallachia." Mai's expression changed slightly. "Period?" "Fifteenth century." Shammy looked at the photograph. "Interesting." Ace glanced between them. "Oh, here we go." Rogue continued. "Collector believes it belonged to Vlad III." Mai went very still. Ace frowned. "Vlad Three?" "Vlad Țepeș." Shammy's expression shifted. Ace stared at Rogue. Then at the photograph. Then back at Rogue. "You're shitting me." "No." "Vlad the Impaler?" "Yes." "Dracula?" Rogue nodded. "That's the one." Ace sat back. For several moments, she said nothing. Then she began laughing. Mai covered her mouth. Shammy looked delighted. Rogue waited patiently. When Ace finally managed to speak, she pointed at the tablet. "You want us to steal Dracula's fucking wineglass?" "Retrieve," Rogue corrected. "From where?" "Romania." Ace looked at Mai. "Darling." "Yes?" "We're going to Transylvania." "Wallachia, technically." Ace stared at her. "Do not ruin this for me." Shammy began laughing. Even Rogue smiled. The drinks arrived. Ace took a very deliberate sip of coffee before looking at the photograph again. "Okay. Let's pretend this is perfectly normal." Rogue raised an eyebrow. "That's usually the best approach with Collector." "Why does he want it?" "Historical significance. Personal association with Vlad. Extremely limited surviving provenance." Mai examined the available documentation. "Are we certain it's authentic?" "No." "Does Collector have evidence supporting the attribution?" "Enough to justify the search. Not enough to establish final authenticity." Mai nodded slowly. "That sounds more reasonable." Ace looked offended. "Reasonable? We're discussing Dracula's drinking habits." Shammy smiled. "Everyone needs a hobby." "Not helping." Rogue scrolled through the file. "The goblet disappeared from documented custody centuries ago. Local accounts place it in the original burial vault associated with Vlad's castle." Mai frowned. "Which castle?" "That's part of the investigation." "Of course it is," Ace muttered. Rogue continued. "The surviving historical accounts are inconsistent. Some describe a burial chamber beneath the original structure. Others suggest the site was sealed or abandoned after a later period of destruction." Mai considered the information. "And modern archaeology?" "Fragmentary. Some investigations, incomplete records, disputed identifications." "Public ownership?" "Not adequately established." Mai looked up. "Then we cannot assume the object is ours to remove simply because it's old." Rogue nodded. "Agreed. The location, the object's condition and the question of legitimate custody are all part of your assessment." Ace glanced at her. "Look at us. Responsible grave robbers." "Investigators," Mai corrected. "Responsible investigators who might eventually rob a grave." "Ace." "What?" Shammy reached across the table and took Ace's hand. "Perhaps we should establish whether the grave actually exists first." Ace considered. "Fine. One problem at a time." Rogue closed the historical file. "There's another detail." Ace looked toward her. "There always is." "Collector consulted Seras Victoria." The humor disappeared from the table. Not because the name was frightening. Because all three women understood its significance. Mai slowly lowered her glass. "Seras knows?" "Yes." "About the goblet?" "And the proposed location." Shammy looked thoughtful. "Of course." Ace studied Rogue. "What did she say?" Rogue paused. "That the goblet was his." Silence. Ace looked down at the photograph. Suddenly the object seemed rather different. Not an amusing relic. Not merely a historical curiosity. A drinking vessel once owned by a man whose absence had left another woman carrying an entire vampire community on her shoulders. "Alucard," Ace said quietly. Rogue nodded. "Alucard." For a while, nobody spoke. The sounds of Afterlife continued around them. Somewhere near the bar, two mercenaries were arguing over a contract. A chair scraped against the floor. Glass touched glass. The world remained stubbornly ordinary. Mai finally broke the silence. "Does Seras know where it is?" "Approximately." "Approximately?" "She's familiar with the historical location. That doesn't mean she knows what six hundred years have done to the place." Shammy nodded. "That is a considerable amount of time." Rogue looked toward her. "I suspect you're better qualified to appreciate that than most." Shammy smiled without elaborating. Ace looked at the photograph again. "And Seras is willing to help?" "She's agreed to discuss it with you." "Good." Rogue studied Ace for a moment. "What?" Ace shrugged. "It's her history too." "That doesn't mean she owns every object associated with Alucard." "I know." "Collector isn't asking you to resolve a dispute between himself and the vampires." "I know that too." Rogue held her gaze. Ace sighed. "Rogue." "What?" "I'm not planning to start a fucking war over a cup." "Good." "Unless the cup starts it." Mai closed her eyes. Shammy laughed softly. Rogue gave Ace a long, weary look. "Please don't." "No promises." Rogue opened the contract. The first page contained the expected operational terms. Travel expenses. Equipment allowances. Historical research expenses. Local transportation. Necessary conservation and containment materials. Emergency extraction provisions. Rogue's professional fee was identified separately. Mai read through the details with growing interest. Then she reached the compensation section. Stopped. Scrolled back. Read it again. Ace noticed immediately. "Darling?" Mai said nothing. "Mai?" She looked up. Then turned the tablet toward Ace. Ace read the number. Blinking once. Twice. She leaned closer. Read it again. Then looked at Rogue. "Excuse me?" Rogue took a drink. "Problem?" Ace pointed at the screen. "Did he accidentally lean on the zero key?" "No." "Is this in eddies?" "Yes." "Not some obscure ancient Romanian currency?" "No." Ace looked at Shammy. Shammy examined the amount. Her eyebrows rose. "Oh." Ace turned back toward Rogue. "OH?" Shammy smiled. "That is rather generous." "Rather generous? Love, that's enough money to make an entire corporate accounting department collectively shit itself." Mai was still examining the terms. "The operational expenses are separate." Ace looked at her. "What?" "The reward is exclusive of expenses." "Of course it is." "And Rogue's fee is independently defined." Rogue nodded. "Properly." Mai continued. "The amount is contingent on authenticated delivery and contractual acceptance." "Which happens," Rogue said, "on the appropriate date." Ace groaned. "Friday the thirteenth." "Friday the thirteenth." "Even if we find it next Tuesday?" "Yes." "Even if Seras personally confirms it's authentic?" "Yes." "Even if the goblet turns out to contain Dracula's original recipe for the world's greatest breakfast cocktail?" Rogue stared at her. Mai began laughing. Shammy pressed a hand against her mouth. Rogue finally said: "Friday. The thirteenth." Ace raised both hands. "Fine! I remember!" "Good." Rogue leaned back. "Collector is quite particular." Ace stared at her. "Rogue, the man lives in a house where the fucking hallways occasionally disagree with each other." "And?" "And I'm beginning to think the calendar is the most normal thing about him." Rogue smiled. "Probably." Mai returned to the operational details. "What's the expected duration?" "Unknown." "Any reason to suspect hostile actors?" "Not currently." "Competing collectors?" "Possible. Nothing confirmed." "Organized criminal interest?" "No credible intelligence." Mai nodded. "And supernatural activity?" Rogue gave her a level look. "You're investigating Dracula's original burial vault." "That isn't an answer." "No," Rogue agreed. "It isn't." Shammy tilted her head. "Has Seras reported anything dangerous associated with the location?" "Not in the material she's provided." Ace considered. "So we might actually be going to Romania, climbing around an old castle, picking up a goblet and coming home?" "Possibly." "Without anybody shooting at us?" "Possibly." "Without a cult?" "Nothing suggests one." "Without a cosmic horror?" Rogue looked irritated. "Don't start." Ace leaned back. "I'm just establishing expectations." Mai reached over and gently squeezed her thigh beneath the table. "Darling." Ace turned toward her. "Yes?" "Perhaps we could enjoy the possibility of an ordinary historical expedition." Ace smiled. "An ordinary historical expedition involving Dracula, two ancient supernatural beings and the reigning Vampire Queen of Night City?" Mai considered. "Yes." Shammy nodded. "Sounds lovely." Rogue finished her drink. "You people have an interesting definition of ordinary." Ace grinned. "Occupational hazard." The next question came from Shammy. "Does Collector expect Seras to accompany us?" Rogue paused. "He hasn't made that a condition." "Good." "Seras is aware of the operation. Whether she travels is her decision." Mai nodded. "As it should be." Ace studied the contract. "The actual retrieval team is us?" "The Triad. Yukari may accompany you. Collector has no objection." "Excellent." Rogue's eyes narrowed. "Don't make that sound ominous." "Yukari's coming. Everything becomes slightly more interesting when Yukari's around." Shammy smiled. "That is true." Mai looked thoughtfully at the photograph. "Seras might know which sections of the historical accounts are accurate." "Likely," Rogue said. "And she might recognize the original structure if any of it survives." "Also likely." Ace's expression softened. "But she's not going to enjoy going back there." Rogue didn't answer immediately. That was answer enough. Shammy looked toward Ace. Then Mai. "We should speak with Yukari before arranging anything." "Yes." Ace examined the photograph once more. The goblet was small. Ordinary-looking. One ancient object among countless things that had survived the passage of centuries. Yet its owner had become a legend, a nightmare, a king among monsters. And somewhere in Night City, a woman who had inherited his legacy was being asked to return to the land associated with his mortal life. Ace was not particularly sentimental about historical objects. She preferred people. Especially living ones. Even when their definition of living was rather flexible. "Rogue." "Yeah?" "If Seras decides she wants to come, she's coming as our friend." Rogue met her eyes. "That's between you and Seras." "Good." "And Ace?" "Yeah?" "Don't turn this into a diplomatic incident." Ace smiled sweetly. "Wouldn't dream of it." Rogue looked at Mai. Mai looked apologetic. Shammy said nothing. Which somehow made the entire exchange worse. The contract remained open on the table. Mai read the remaining conditions carefully. There were no surprises. At least none that could be identified on paper. The Collector wanted the genuine artifact, not a plausible substitute. Its condition and provenance mattered. The group was expected to preserve it and provide an accurate account of its recovery. No artificial deadline was imposed on the retrieval itself, beyond the practical necessity of arranging delivery for Friday the thirteenth. And the payment remained gloriously, offensively excessive. Finally, Mai looked up. "I think we can accept." Shammy nodded. "Yes." Ace considered the photograph one last time. Then looked toward Rogue. "Fine." Rogue raised an eyebrow. "Fine?" "We'll go find Dracula's favorite drinking cup." "Personal goblet." "Fancy drinking cup." "Ace." "Rogue." For a moment, the two women simply stared at each other. Then Rogue smiled. "Contract accepted?" Mai answered before Ace could invent another description. "Contract accepted." Rogue confirmed the arrangement. The authorization appeared on Mai's agent. A substantial advance for operational expenses followed shortly afterward. Ace checked the transfer. Whistled. "Jesus Christ." Rogue looked entirely unimpressed. "Travel isn't cheap." "Apparently we're buying the airplane." "Try not to." "No promises." They remained for another coffee. For once, Rogue didn't hurry them out. The operational conversation was finished. The next step was clear. They needed to speak with Seras. After that, they would prepare the trip. Mai began assembling a preliminary research list. Historical maps. Romanian archives. Possible archaeological records. Modern satellite imagery. Transportation logistics. Ace watched the list grow. "Darling." "Yes?" "Please tell me you're not going to spend the entire evening doing research." Mai smiled. "Not the entire evening." "How much?" "A little." Ace narrowed her eyes. "Define little." Shammy leaned against her. "I'll make sure she takes breaks." Ace looked at her suspiciously. "You're going to help her." "Of course." Ace sighed. "Two researchers. One coffee machine. No survivors." Rogue shook her head. "Get out of my booth." Ace grinned. "Love you too." "Out." The three women stood. Mai collected the documents. Shammy finished her drink. Ace paused before leaving. "Rogue?" "What now?" She pointed toward the photograph still displayed on the tablet. "One last question." Rogue waited. "Does Collector know that Alucard is Dracula?" A faint smile touched Rogue's mouth. "He consulted Seras Victoria personally." Ace considered. "Fair point." She turned to leave. Then stopped. "Wait. Does he actually know what kind of relationship Seras had with Alucard?" Rogue's expression became unreadable. "He knows enough to have asked her." That silenced Ace. For a moment. Then she nodded. "Good." Outside, Night City welcomed them with the usual evening traffic, neon reflections and distant sirens. The city looked exactly as it always did. Ace found that mildly insulting. She looked toward Mai. "Romania." Mai smiled. "Romania." "Dracula's castle." "Possibly." "Dracula's original tomb." "According to local tradition." "Dracula's wineglass." "Goblet." Ace sighed. "You're both doing this on purpose." Shammy laughed. Mai slipped an arm around her. Ace kissed her cheek. Then looked toward Shammy and drew her closer as well. For a few moments, the three simply stood together. Another job. Another impossible amount of money. Another journey into history. And this time, perhaps, something rather more personal than any of them had expected. Ace finally looked at her lovers. "Let's go home and tell Yukari." "She'll be interested." Shammy nodded. "Very." Ace considered the matter. "Actually, I'm slightly worried about how interested she'll be." "Why?" Mai asked. Ace grinned. "Because we're taking an ancient nine-tailed fox to Dracula's castle." Shammy began laughing. Mai looked toward the evening sky. "And?" "And somehow," Ace said, "I suspect Dracula's going to be the least interesting historical figure on that trip." Neither of her lovers disagreed. --- Elsewhere in Night City, Seras Victoria stood beside a tall window. The lights of the city spread beneath her. She held an old photograph. Not of the goblet. Not of the castle. Of a man. Her expression was impossible to read. For a long time, she simply looked at the image. Then she turned it over. A few words were written on the back in handwriting she knew better than her own. Her thumb rested against the faded ink. "Wallachia," she whispered. The word sounded strange after so many years. She closed her eyes. She had thought herself finished with that place. With its history. With the memories that lived there. Apparently, she had been mistaken. Her agent chimed. A message from Mai. *Rogue briefed us. We've accepted the assignment. We'd like to speak with you before making travel arrangements. Whenever you're comfortable.* Seras read it twice. Then smiled faintly. Trust Mai to leave the decision in her hands. She typed a reply. *Tomorrow evening. I'll explain what I know.* A moment later, she added: *And tell Ace that if she calls it Dracula's wineglass in front of me, I may have to bite her.* The reply came almost immediately. *She says you're welcome to try.* Seras laughed. A genuine laugh. It faded slowly. She looked once more at the photograph. Then placed it carefully in its case. "Goddammit, Alucard," she whispered. For the first time in a very long while, the Vampire Queen of Night City found herself wondering whether she was ready to enter the place Alucard had described so often. --- ## Chapter 2 — The Vampire Queen's Memories Helena found Seras standing beside the window. That, by itself, was nothing unusual. Her beloved had a habit of watching Night City from above, particularly on evenings when the city seemed determined to demonstrate why it needed a vampire queen in the first place. What was unusual was the photograph in Seras's hand. Helena recognized it immediately. She stopped in the doorway. "Oh." Seras didn't turn. "That obvious?" "To me? Yes." Helena crossed the room quietly. The photograph showed a man whose face belonged to several different centuries and rather more legends than any single individual reasonably deserved. Alucard. Dracula. Vlad Țepeș. And, to Helena, someone considerably more complicated than any of those names suggested. "How long have you been looking at that?" Helena asked. "Long enough to start getting annoyed with myself." "An impressive achievement." Seras smiled faintly. Helena stepped beside her. "Collector?" "Collector." "The goblet?" Seras nodded. "And you've decided to go?" "I have." Helena studied her. "Back to Wallachia." "Back to Wallachia." For a moment, neither spoke. Then Helena gently removed the photograph from Seras's fingers and set it on the nearby table. "You know you don't have to." "I know." "You don't owe him another pilgrimage." Seras turned toward her. "That's not why I'm going." "Then why?" Seras opened her mouth. Closed it. Then gave a small, humorless laugh. "I was rather hoping you'd know." Helena's expression softened. "Oh, darling." She drew Seras into her arms. The Vampire Queen accepted the embrace without hesitation. For a while, they simply stood together. Helena was older than Seras. Much older. She remembered worlds that had been buried beneath other worlds, kingdoms whose names survived only because poets had refused to let them die, and people who had once believed themselves immortal for reasons that had nothing to do with vampirism. She remembered Dracula, too. Not merely the legend. The vampire who had transformed her. And she remembered the woman who now held her. The woman Helena had first acknowledged as her queen, entirely of her own free will. The woman she had subsequently fallen in love with. Those were two different decisions. Helena had never regretted either. "You're afraid of what you'll remember," she said quietly. Seras looked up. "That obvious too?" "Only to someone who loves you." Seras sighed. "You're becoming terribly inconvenient." "I've had plenty of practice." A smile finally returned to Seras's face. Helena kissed her forehead. "Go, my love." Seras studied her. "Really?" "Yes. Go with your friends. Find the ridiculous old cup." "Goblet." "Whatever he called it when he was feeling important." Seras laughed. Helena smiled. "And when you come home, tell me everything." Seras leaned closer. "Everything?" "Everything you're ready to tell me." That made the smile gentler. "I love you." "I know." "Arrogant woman." "Your arrogant woman." Helena kissed her. And for a little while, the past was content to remain where it belonged. --- The following evening, Watson was experiencing what passed for an ordinary household emergency. Brenda had misplaced a screwdriver. Iris had found three. None was the correct one. Ace was being accused of eating the last piece of cake. And Yukari was lying on the couch in fox form, watching the proceedings with extraordinary satisfaction. "I didn't eat it," Ace protested. Brenda folded her arms. "Then where is it?" "How the fuck should I know?" "Because you were the last person in the kitchen." "That is circumstantial evidence." Mai looked up from the dining table. "Darling, you have chocolate on your shirt." Ace looked down. A small brown stain decorated the fabric. She considered it. Then looked back at Mai. "Fabrication." Iris began laughing. Shammy smiled. Brenda pointed triumphantly. "HA!" Ace turned toward her. "That proves nothing." "It proves everything." Yukari lifted her head. "Actually, I believe the last piece of cake was eaten by someone else." Everyone looked at her. Ace's eyes narrowed. "Yukari." The fox blinked. "Yes, beloved?" "Did you eat the cake?" "No." "Do you know who did?" "Yes." Brenda leaned forward. "Who?" Yukari smiled. "Shammy." Silence. Shammy slowly looked toward the fox. Then toward the rest of the household. "I was hungry." Ace stared at her. Mai began laughing so hard she had to put down her tablet. Brenda looked genuinely betrayed. "SHAMMY?" The ancient elemental smiled apologetically. "It was very good." Ace threw both hands into the air. "I DEMAND A FORMAL APOLOGY!" Shammy reached over and kissed her cheek. "Sorry, love." Ace considered. "Accepted." Brenda shook her head. "Unbelievable." Iris leaned against her. "Sweetheart, we can make another cake." Brenda looked at her. Then at Shammy. Then sighed. "Fine." Yukari settled comfortably back into the couch. "An excellent resolution." Ace pointed at her. "You knew the whole time." "Of course." "And you let me get accused?" "Yes." "Why?" Yukari's golden eyes gleamed. "Because I love you." Ace stared at her. "That is an absolutely terrible justification." Shammy laughed. Then the downstairs security notification sounded. Mai checked the display. "Seras is here." The mood changed. Not dramatically. Not with apprehension. Simply with the pleasant recognition of an expected guest. Ace looked toward Brenda. "Saved by the Vampire Queen." Brenda grinned. "Temporarily." Mai opened the secured upper entrance from inside. Seras Victoria stood on the other side. She wore her familiar red coat, her pale hair framing a youthful face that gave little indication of the centuries of authority, violence and responsibility attached to her name. Her expression brightened. "Mai." "Seras. Welcome." "Am I interrupting?" "Only a criminal investigation." Seras blinked. "Should I ask?" "Missing cake." "Ah." "Shammy confessed." Seras considered that. "Well. At least justice has been served." Mai laughed and invited her inside. When they reached the living room, Ace was already waiting. "Your Majesty." Seras raised an eyebrow. "Oh, don't start." Ace gave an elaborate bow. "Your Royal Bloodsucking Highness." Seras grinned, displaying the tips of her fangs. "Would you prefer I bite you now or after coffee?" "After. I don't negotiate with vampires before caffeine." "An understandable policy." Shammy approached and embraced Seras warmly. "Welcome, dear." Seras returned the embrace. "Good to see you." Then her attention shifted toward the couch. Nine tails. Golden eyes. A fox who regarded her with an expression that was entirely too knowing. "Yukari." "Seras." The fox stretched. "Would you prefer me like this, or should I become properly presentable?" Seras smiled. "Your choice." "How delightful." Yukari rose from the couch. Her form flowed smoothly into that of a young-looking woman, nearly black hair carrying subtle copper-red highlights. A moment later she stood before Seras, appropriately dressed and wearing a mischievous smile. Seras gave her an appreciative look. "You do enjoy making an entrance." Yukari stepped forward and kissed her cheek. "Only when the audience deserves it." Ace groaned. "Dear God. There are two of them." Seras looked toward her. "Two what?" "Women who think being impossibly old gives them unlimited flirting privileges." Yukari smiled. "Doesn't it?" Shammy considered. "Apparently." Ace looked at her. "Not you too!" Iris laughed from the kitchen. "Coffee, everyone?" Seras raised a hand. "Please." Brenda looked toward her. "And don't worry. Nobody's put anything strange in it." Ace immediately turned. "BRENDA." "What?" "WHY WOULD YOU SAY THAT?" Brenda looked innocent. "Hospitality." Seras began laughing. For several minutes, the house was simply a house. Friends. Coffee. Conversation. The reassuring chaos of people who knew one another well enough not to require ceremony. Seras found herself enjoying it more than she had expected. Eventually, Iris and Brenda excused themselves to attend to their own evening. The five women settled around the dining table. Mai opened her research materials. A large map appeared on the wall display. Romania. The Carpathians. The historical boundaries of Wallachia. A collection of locations marked with varying degrees of confidence. Seras studied the display. "Well. That's considerably more efficient than the maps I remember." Ace grinned. "Progress." "Debatable." Mai smiled. "Let's start with what we know." She enlarged the historical region. "Vlad III ruled Wallachia during the fifteenth century. His life, death and burial have accumulated an extraordinary amount of contradictory material." Seras nodded. "Yes." "Several locations have been associated with his remains." "Also true." "And the particular castle we're looking for isn't necessarily the location modern tourists would associate with Dracula." Seras laughed softly. "Thank God." Ace looked curious. "Why?" Seras glanced toward her. "Because the tourist industry has done some rather creative things with his history." Yukari chuckled. "Humans do enjoy improving stories." "Not always improving," Seras replied. "True." Mai continued. "Collector believes the goblet was deposited in a burial chamber associated with Vlad's original castle." "He has reasons for that belief." "Do you share them?" A pause. "Mostly." Ace leaned forward. "Mostly?" Seras looked at her. "There's a difference between knowing where something was and knowing where it is." Mai nodded approvingly. "Exactly." Seras pointed toward the display. "Start with the castle." Mai enlarged several archival photographs. Ruins. Overgrown foundations. Fragments of fortification. Old survey drawings. An incomplete architectural reconstruction. Seras examined the images for a long moment. Then she frowned. "That's wrong." Mai turned. "Which part?" "The western structure." She pointed. "That section wasn't arranged like that." Mai opened another reconstruction. "This version?" "No." A third. Seras studied it. "Closer." Ace watched with increasing interest. "How do you know?" Seras hesitated. "Alucard showed me." Conversation subsided around the table. Seras had everyone's attention without asking for it. Seras continued. "He had an old drawing of the place. Not one of the tourist reproductions. Something much older." Mai leaned forward. "Do you remember the layout?" "Some of it." "Could you reproduce what you remember?" Seras considered. "Probably." "That would be extremely useful." Seras smiled faintly. "He used to complain that people kept getting the geography wrong." Ace grinned. "That sounds oddly familiar." Seras glanced toward her. "Oh?" "Mai complains about maps." Mai raised an eyebrow. "Only inaccurate ones." "Which is most of them, apparently." "Only when you're reading them upside down." Shammy laughed. Ace looked wounded. "That happened once." "Twice." "Once and a half." Seras smiled. For a moment, the tension eased. Then Mai changed the display to a blank architectural grid. "Would you like to try?" Seras nodded. "All right." She began drawing. Not quickly. Not with impossible supernatural precision. She worked from memory, correcting herself occasionally. A long wall. An internal courtyard. A defensive structure. Older foundations that might have survived beneath later construction. Mai watched carefully. Shammy moved closer. Ace studied the emerging plan. Yukari watched Seras. And noticed something. Each time Seras added a familiar feature, her expression changed slightly. A flicker of recognition. Then something quieter. Something painful. Yukari said nothing. Not yet. Nearly an hour later, the reconstructed plan occupied most of the display. Mai compared it with the surviving archaeological material. "Interesting." Ace sighed. "Oh no." Mai ignored her. "The older plan suggests that part of the structure may have been built over an earlier underground section." Seras nodded. "That would make sense." "Do you know what it was used for?" "Not exactly." Shammy examined the drawing. "Storage?" "Possibly." "A crypt?" Seras looked at her. "Also possible." Mai added a notation. "Nothing conclusive yet." Ace pointed toward an irregular section of the foundation. "What's that?" Mai enlarged it. "A damaged boundary in one of the surveys." "Looks like there's something behind it." "Could be." Seras studied the marking. Her expression became distant. Yukari noticed immediately. "Seras?" The Vampire Queen blinked. "Sorry." "What is it?" "Nothing." Yukari waited. Seras looked back toward the display. "Just something he once told me." Ace leaned forward. "About the castle?" "About his tomb." For several seconds, nobody moved. Mai gently set down her stylus. Seras looked at the reconstruction. "He said people would spend centuries trying to decide where he'd been buried." Ace frowned. "Was he joking?" Seras laughed once. "Probably." "Probably?" "With him, you could never be entirely sure." Shammy smiled. "I understand that." Yukari glanced toward her. "Of course you do." Seras continued. "He found the whole business amusing. The idea that historians would argue about a grave while the man they were discussing was sitting in a chair beside them." Ace considered. "Okay, that's actually pretty funny." "It was." Seras smiled. Then the smile faded. "He had a rather unpleasant sense of humor." Mai looked up. "Was he wrong about that?" "No." The answer came easily. Without defensiveness. "He was a terrible man in many ways. He never pretended otherwise." Seras looked toward the old drawing. "But he was also..." She stopped. Yukari gently touched her hand. Seras looked at her. The kitsune smiled. "You don't have to explain everything tonight." Seras held her gaze. Then nodded. "Thank you." They took a break. Mai saved the reconstruction. Ace fetched more coffee. Shammy produced a plate of small sandwiches. Seras looked at the food. "You're feeding me?" Shammy smiled. "You're our guest." "I don't exactly require sandwiches." "Neither do I." Seras considered that. Then laughed. "Fair point." She accepted one. Ace sat beside her. "See? Civilization." Seras took a bite. "Quite good." "Shammy made them." "That explains it." Ace looked offended. "Excuse me?" Seras smiled sweetly. "Would you like me to pretend otherwise?" "You're becoming very comfortable in my house." "Your hospitality is overwhelming." Mai laughed from the other side of the table. Yukari sat beside Seras. For several minutes, the conversation turned toward ordinary things. Night City's latest absurdities. A minor disagreement between two vampires over an ancient property deed. A corporate executive who had apparently attempted to hire supernatural security consultants without realizing that his proposed contract violated several laws and at least one treaty older than his company. Ace listened with growing amusement. "Seriously?" Seras nodded. "He wanted exclusive control over their movements." "That went well, I assume." "His legal department has been reconsidering its life choices." Yukari grinned. "How dreadful." "Terribly." Shammy laughed. Seras relaxed. It was easy to forget, in moments like these, that she was the reigning queen of a hidden community. That people feared her. That entire organizations adjusted their plans when they learned she might become involved. Here she was simply Seras. A woman eating sandwiches with friends. And Yukari could see how much she needed that. Later, when the research resumed, Mai turned to the goblet itself. The available photographs were disappointing. Poor lighting. Inconsistent scale. Uncertain dates. One illustration that might have been based on an entirely different object. Ace stared at the screen. "That's it?" "That's what we have." "He's offering that much money for something that might not even look like the picture?" Mai nodded. "Yes." Ace sighed. "Collectors." Seras smiled. "He's always been rather particular." Ace looked toward her. "You know him well?" "Enough." "Should I be worried?" "About Collector?" "Yes." Seras considered. "I would advise being polite." Ace stared. "That's your advice?" "Yes." "To someone who routinely handles supernatural disasters?" "Especially to someone who routinely handles supernatural disasters." Yukari laughed. "Wise advice." Ace pointed at her. "You're enjoying this." "Immensely." Mai enlarged the best surviving illustration. "Seras, do you recognize the design?" The Vampire Queen leaned forward. She studied the image. Her expression changed. A little. But enough. "Yes." Mai waited. Seras pointed toward the stem. "There should be a narrow band just below the bowl." Mai examined the illustration. "Here?" "Yes." "And the decoration?" "Not quite right." "Can you describe it?" Seras closed her eyes. For a moment, her fingers rested lightly against the table. Then she opened them again. "Vines." Mai began making notes. "Engraved?" "Yes. Very fine." "Any heraldic markings?" "Not on the outside." Ace leaned forward. "You've actually seen the thing?" Seras nodded. "Yes." "Recently?" Seras laughed softly. "Not by human standards." Shammy smiled. "An interesting distinction." Seras looked toward her. "I thought you'd appreciate it." Mai continued. "Do you remember anything unusual about the object?" Seras considered. "No." Ace blinked. "Nothing?" "Nothing supernatural, if that's what you're asking." "Really?" "It was a goblet, Ace." Ace looked at her. "Belonging to Dracula." "Yes." "And it was just a goblet?" Seras grinned. "He did occasionally drink from ordinary objects, you know." Ace leaned back. "Well, there goes my entire understanding of vampire aristocracy." Yukari laughed. "Perhaps he also owned a spoon." Seras smiled. "Several." Ace threw her hands up. "STOP DESTROYING THE LEGEND!" Even Mai laughed. The evening grew late. Eventually the research documents were saved, the maps organized and the preliminary route possibilities marked for further investigation. The group had enough information to begin planning. Not enough to travel blindly. But enough to establish a credible starting point. Mai summarized the situation. "We have an approximate historical location, several possible approaches and a reconstruction of the original castle that may help us identify buried sections." Ace nodded. "We'll need climbing equipment." "Yes." "Structural assessment gear." "Definitely." "And something to protect the goblet during transportation." Mai smiled. "Already on the list." Shammy looked toward Seras. "Do you expect anything dangerous?" Seras thought about the question. "From the castle itself? Possibly." Ace frowned. "Possibly?" "It's old. Very old. Buildings don't survive that long without changing." Mai nodded. "Structural instability." "Exactly." "Anything else?" Seras considered. "Nothing I know of." Ace smiled. "Finally. A castle that isn't actively trying to murder us." Yukari raised an eyebrow. "An unstable floor can be quite enthusiastic." "Don't ruin this." Shammy laughed. Mai closed the planning display. "Then we'll prepare for a careful physical exploration." Seras nodded. "Good." When the formal discussion ended, nobody immediately stood. Instead, the conversation softened. The city hummed outside. Coffee cups sat half-empty on the table. The familiar warmth of the safehouse settled around them. Seras looked toward the window. For a moment, she seemed somewhere else. Yukari noticed. "Seras?" "Hmm?" "Would you like some air?" The Vampire Queen looked at her. Then smiled faintly. "Yes." They stepped onto the safehouse's broad balcony. The night air was cool. Below them, Watson continued its endless arguments with traffic, electricity and human stupidity. Yukari leaned against the railing. Seras stood beside her. For a while, neither spoke. Then Seras sighed. "I suppose you noticed." Yukari smiled. "I notice many things." "That sounds exhausting." "Occasionally." Seras looked toward the city. "I'm not usually like this." "Like what?" "Quiet." Yukari laughed softly. "No. You certainly aren't." Seras smiled. Then looked away. "I keep thinking about the castle." Yukari waited. "Not the journey. Not the goblet. The castle." "Why?" Seras took her time answering. "Because I remember him talking about it." "Alucard." "Yes." The name hung between them. Seras continued. "He could be infuriating. Arrogant. Cruel. Impossible." Yukari nodded. "I've known people like that." Seras laughed. "I'm sure you have." "He could also be funny," Seras said. "That much I gathered." "Sometimes he'd tell me stories about his human life. Not often. Usually when he was in an exceptionally strange mood." Yukari turned slightly toward her. "And the castle?" "He talked about its walls. Its halls. People he'd known. Things he'd done." Seras paused. "Some of those things were terrible." Yukari said nothing. "I don't romanticize him," Seras continued quietly. "I know what he was." "I believe you." "But I loved him." The words came without hesitation. Not romantic love. Something older and more complicated. The love of someone whose life had been profoundly shaped by another. Someone who had known both the monster and the person behind the legend. Seras looked down. "And now he's gone." Yukari gently took her hand. Seras let her. "The worst part," Seras said, "is that I don't even know whether I should mourn him." Yukari frowned slightly. "Why wouldn't you?" "Because he's Alucard." "And?" "Because he was supposed to be..." Seras stopped. For a moment, her usual confidence deserted her. Not her control. Not her strength. Only the comfortable certainty that she knew how to describe what she felt. Yukari stepped closer. "Seras." The Vampire Queen looked at her. "You don't need permission to miss someone." Seras stared. Then laughed quietly. "That's annoyingly sensible." "I have my moments." "Not many, I imagine." "Very few." They smiled. The city continued below them. After a while, Seras squeezed Yukari's hand. "I'm afraid I'll see the place and remember too much." Yukari considered. "That may happen." Seras looked surprised. "You're not going to tell me it'll be fine?" "No." "Why?" "Because I don't know that." The answer was simple. Seras studied her. Yukari continued. "I know ancient places. I know what they can do to someone who remembers them differently." She looked toward the dark horizon. "I've watched cities disappear. I've returned to places where people I loved once lived, only to find stones, roads and strangers who had never heard their names." Seras listened. "Sometimes I was angry," Yukari said. "Sometimes I laughed. Sometimes I cried." She looked back at Seras. "Sometimes I went home and didn't speak for days." A faint smile touched her lips. "Age doesn't make those feelings disappear." Seras swallowed. "No." "It just gives us more memories." For a moment, they stood together in silence. Then Yukari added: "And more people worth making new ones with." Seras looked at her. The kitsune smiled warmly. "You're not going there alone." "I know." "Not even when we reach the castle." Seras nodded. "And if it becomes too much, we'll stop." Seras gave a small laugh. "You're planning to order the Vampire Queen around?" Yukari's golden eyes gleamed. "If necessary." "Brave woman." "Ancient fox." Seras laughed. A genuine, delighted laugh. Then she leaned forward and rested her forehead briefly against Yukari's. "Thank you." Yukari squeezed her hand. "Always." --- Inside, Ace was watching through the glass. Not intrusively. Just checking. Mai approached and slipped an arm around her waist. "They're talking?" "Yeah." "Good." Ace watched the two women on the terrace. "Seras looked worried earlier." Mai nodded. "I noticed." Shammy joined them. "Yukari will help." Ace smiled faintly. "I know." She looked toward her lovers. "But we will too." Mai kissed her cheek. "Of course." Shammy wrapped an arm around both of them. For a moment, the Triad stood together. Three women who had faced impossible things. Three women who knew that not every battle required a weapon. Ace glanced toward the terrace again. "Still." Mai looked at her. "What?" Ace grinned. "I can't believe we're actually going to Dracula's castle." Mai sighed. "Ace." "What?" "Wallachia." "Dracula's castle." "Historical uncertainty." "Dracula's castle." "Potentially disputed attribution." Ace turned toward Shammy. "Help me." Shammy considered. Then smiled. "Perhaps we should bring garlic." Ace stared at her. Mai burst out laughing. From the terrace came Seras's unmistakable voice. "I HEARD THAT!" Shammy laughed. Ace shouted back. "WE'RE BRINGING EXTRA!" Seras appeared in the doorway a moment later, grinning broadly enough to display both fangs. "Keep talking, Ace." Ace folded her arms. "Threatening me in my own house?" "Absolutely." Yukari followed her inside. "Children." Seras turned toward her. "Excuse me?" Yukari smiled. "All of you." Shammy nodded solemnly. "I agree." Ace stared. "YOU'RE BOTH WORSE THAN WE ARE!" The room dissolved into laughter. And for a little while, Wallachia seemed very far away. --- Later that night, Seras returned home. Helena was waiting. Not because she had been worried. Not because she needed to supervise her queen. Simply because she enjoyed being there when the woman she loved returned. "Well?" Helena asked. Seras removed her coat. "I'm going." Helena smiled. "I thought you might." "Five of us. Ace, Mai, Shammy, Yukari and me." "An interesting travelling party." "That's one way of describing them." Helena approached. "How was the evening?" Seras considered. "Informative." "Only informative?" "Extremely noisy." Helena laughed. "That sounds more accurate." Seras slipped her arms around her. "And rather wonderful." Helena's expression softened. "Good." Seras rested her head against Helena's shoulder. For a while, neither moved. Then Helena asked quietly: "Did you tell them?" "Some things." "Not everything?" Seras shook her head. "No." Helena kissed her hair. "That's all right." Seras closed her eyes. "I think Yukari understands." "She probably does." "She's older than she looks." Helena laughed softly. "Darling, that describes almost everyone we know." Seras smiled. "True." Another quiet moment passed. Then Seras spoke again. "Helena?" "Yes, my love?" "Do you remember the goblet?" Helena considered. "Which one?" Seras began laughing. "Oh, for God's sake." "Dracula accumulated quite a few possessions over the years." "The silver one. Fine engraving. Vines around the stem." Helena thought for a moment. Then nodded. "Yes." Seras looked up. "You remember it?" "Of course." "Did he ever tell you where it went?" Helena's expression became thoughtful. "Not directly." Seras sighed. "Typical." "But I remember him mentioning something about the old burial chamber." Seras went still. Helena noticed. "What?" "Nothing." "Seras." The Vampire Queen looked at her. Helena smiled gently. "You're remembering something." Seras nodded. "Perhaps." "Would you like to tell me?" Seras hesitated. Then shook her head. "Not yet." Helena accepted that immediately. "All right." She drew Seras closer. No pressure. No questions. Only warmth. For a long time, they remained together. And somewhere beneath the accumulated centuries of Seras Victoria's memories, an old castle began to take shape again. Its walls. Its courtyard. A chamber hidden beneath ancient stone. And the voice of a man who had once spoken of his own grave as though death were merely an inconvenience. --- Back at the Watson safehouse, Ace was lying in bed between Mai and Shammy. Yukari had settled at the foot of the bed in fox form. The lights were dim. The evening's research was finished. Travel preparations would begin in earnest tomorrow. Ace stared at the ceiling. "Darling?" Mai made a sleepy sound. "Yes?" "Do you think Dracula actually had breakfast next to all those impaled Turks?" Mai opened one eye. "Historical accounts suggest variations of that story." Ace considered. "That's a spectacularly unpleasant breakfast view." Shammy laughed softly. "Perhaps he enjoyed the outdoors." Ace turned toward her. "Love." "Yes?" "That is possibly the worst interpretation of medieval history I've ever heard." Shammy kissed her forehead. "You're welcome." From the foot of the bed, Yukari spoke. "Personally, I prefer breakfast with flowers." Ace smiled. "So did you ever meet him?" Yukari opened one golden eye. "Who?" "Vlad." A pause. Then the kitsune smiled. "Good night, beloved." Ace sat up. "WAIT." Mai began laughing. Shammy hid her face against Ace's shoulder. Yukari closed her eye again. "Sleep well." "YUKARI." Nine tails shifted comfortably. No answer. Ace stared at the fox. Then at her lovers. "Oh, for fuck's sake." Mai pulled her gently back down. "Tomorrow, darling." Shammy wrapped her arms around them. "Tomorrow." Ace sighed. "Fine." A moment passed. Then she muttered: "But I'm asking her again." From the foot of the bed came a soft, delighted chuckle. And Night City, entirely indifferent to the historical mysteries gathering around five extraordinary women, continued peacefully into another night. --- ## Chapter 3 — Five Tickets to Europe The first indication that the expedition was becoming serious came when Mai announced they needed to discuss luggage. Ace looked up from her coffee. "How much luggage?" "That depends." "On?" "Whether you intend to pack for a historical investigation or an invasion." Ace considered the question. "Can I choose both?" "No." "You're taking all the fun out of this." Shammy smiled from the other side of the kitchen table. "Love, we're visiting an ancient castle. We don't need enough equipment to conquer Romania." Ace pointed at her. "That's exactly what someone would say before discovering the castle has a basement full of unpleasant surprises." Mai sighed. "We have no evidence of anything dangerous beyond structural deterioration." "That's what worries me." "Why?" "Because that's suspiciously reasonable." Yukari, sitting nearby in human form, looked up from her tea. "I believe reasonable things are still permitted to happen to us." Ace stared at her. "Since when?" "A fair question." Shammy laughed. Mai returned to her preparations. The table was covered with the results of the previous evening's research. Historical maps. Modern terrain surveys. Photographs. Possible access routes. Weather projections. Travel documents. Equipment lists. And one particularly expensive reservation confirmation. Ace noticed the last item. "Wait." Mai continued typing. "Yes?" "Are those our tickets?" "Yes." Ace leaned closer. Then looked at the price. Then back at Mai. "Darling." "Yes?" "Why does it cost that much to put five women on an airplane?" "Because we're taking a premium long-distance service with flexible arrangements for equipment and onward transport." Ace considered. "Does the airplane come with a complimentary castle?" "No." "Disappointing." Yukari smiled. "Perhaps we should ask." Mai looked at her. "Please don't encourage her." "Of course." The kitsune took another sip of tea. "Would a complimentary duchy be acceptable instead?" Ace slapped the table. "SEE? SHE UNDERSTANDS!" Shammy began laughing. Mai closed her eyes. It was going to be a long trip. The equipment planning proved considerably less entertaining. Mai insisted on separating items into three categories. Personal necessities. Historical investigation equipment. Structural exploration equipment. Ace attempted to introduce a fourth category. "Things that become useful when everything goes to hell." Mai looked at her. "That's already covered." "Where?" "Emergency equipment." "Too polite." "Accurate." "Not nearly dramatic enough." Shammy examined the list. "Ropes, climbing harnesses, portable structural scanners, environmental monitors, lighting, protective clothing, first-aid supplies, and artifact preservation materials." She looked toward Mai. "That seems sensible." "Thank you." Ace leaned forward. "Katanas?" Mai didn't look up. "Obviously." Ace smiled. "Good." "But we're not carrying an arsenal through international customs." "Ruin everything, why don't you." Yukari raised one hand. "Do I require anything special?" Mai looked at her. "Clothing suitable for mountain weather." "Naturally." "Comfortable footwear." "Of course." "And whatever personal items you need." Yukari considered. "Tea." Mai smiled. "Already arranged." "Excellent." Ace stared. "That's it?" Yukari looked innocent. "What else would I require?" "We're exploring an ancient castle." "Yes." "With collapsed walls and dangerous floors." "Yes." "And you're bringing tea?" Yukari smiled. "I am also bringing myself." Shammy nodded. "An excellent precaution." Ace opened her mouth. Closed it. Then pointed toward both women. "I hate it when you're right in exactly the wrong way." Their departure was scheduled for the following evening. That gave Mai time to finish the logistical arrangements and Rogue time to establish the necessary European contacts. It also gave Brenda time to become extremely interested in the expedition. "Romania?" Ace nodded. "Romania." "Dracula's castle?" "Dracula's castle." Mai, passing through the living room with her tablet, sighed. "We haven't established that designation." Brenda waved dismissively. "Details." Iris looked up from the couch. "You're actually going to investigate a fifteenth-century burial site?" "Possibly," Mai replied. "That's fascinating." Brenda turned toward her. "Fascinating? They're going to find Dracula's drinking cup!" "Goblet," Mai corrected automatically. Ace pointed. "See? That's been happening for two days." Iris smiled. "Do you know what you'll be looking for?" Mai brought up the preliminary illustration. Brenda leaned forward. She studied it. Then frowned. "That's a cup." Ace threw both hands into the air. "THANK YOU!" Mai looked betrayed. Shammy laughed. Iris examined the illustration more carefully. "Has Collector confirmed the material?" "Not conclusively," Mai said. "The historical attribution remains part of the investigation." Brenda nodded. "Right." A pause. Then: "How much is he paying?" Ace and Mai exchanged a glance. Shammy smiled. Brenda noticed immediately. "Oh, you three are hiding something." "No," Ace said. "Yes, you are." "Professional confidentiality." Brenda folded her arms. "Since when have you cared about that?" Mai considered the question. "She has a point." Ace stared at her. "Darling!" Iris laughed. Brenda leaned closer. "Come on. Just a hint." Ace sighed. "Enough." "Enough for what?" "A very comfortable retirement." Brenda blinked. "For one person?" Ace grinned. "For a small corporation." Silence. Then Brenda slowly sat back. "Jesus fucking Christ." Shammy nodded. "That was approximately our reaction." Iris looked at Mai. "Operational expenses separate?" Mai nodded. "Naturally." Brenda stared. "Naturally?" Ace spread her hands. "Welcome to Collector economics." Later that afternoon, Rogue contacted Mai. The conversation was brief. European transportation had been arranged. Necessary access to equipment suppliers had been confirmed. A local vehicle would be waiting after arrival. And the historical research required additional caution. "Romanian heritage regulations aren't optional," Rogue said. "Understood." "Collector wants the genuine object. He doesn't want you manufacturing an international incident to get it." Ace, listening nearby, smiled. "That's a shame. I was planning to invade a museum." Rogue's expression did not change. "Don't." "You're no fun." "That's why I'm still alive." Mai suppressed a laugh. Rogue continued. "Verify the location. Establish the situation. If the artifact is where the historical material suggests, determine how to recover it without turning the site into rubble." "Agreed," Mai said. "And keep me informed." "Of course." Rogue glanced toward Ace. "Anything you want to ask?" Ace considered. "Is Dracula's castle covered by our travel insurance?" Rogue stared at her. "No." "Should be." "Goodbye, Ace." The connection ended. Ace looked offended. Mai laughed. "She has remarkable patience with you." "She loves me." "She's exceptionally good at concealing it." "Professional talent." Shammy smiled. "Perhaps we should leave her alone for a while." Ace considered. "Fine." Then she looked toward the luggage. "Let's see whether Seras is ready." Seras arrived that evening with a single travel case. The downstairs notification sounded first. Mai checked the security display, confirmed their expected guest, and went to open the safehouse's upper entrance from inside. A few moments later, the Vampire Queen joined them in the living room. Ace examined her luggage. Then looked at her. "That's everything?" Seras nodded. "Yes." "For an international expedition?" "Yes." "Into a ruined castle?" Seras smiled. "I'm not planning to move into it." Yukari approached and inspected the case. "Practical." "Thank you." Ace looked toward Mai. "Why am I the only person who thinks we're underpacking?" Mai raised an eyebrow. "You're bringing three bags." "Two." "Three." "One contains equipment." "One contains clothing." "And the third?" Ace hesitated. Shammy smiled. "Emergency provisions." Mai looked suspicious. "What sort of emergency provisions?" Ace looked away. "Snacks." Seras began laughing. Yukari tilted her head. "What kind of snacks?" Ace sighed. "Chocolate." Shammy grinned. "And?" "Coffee." Mai stared. "Darling." "What?" "We're going to Romania, not the moon." "Exactly. Romania. A country whose local coffee quality I have not personally verified." Seras folded her arms. "You're bringing emergency coffee to Europe?" Ace looked at her. "I refuse to apologize for standards." Yukari nodded thoughtfully. "An entirely reasonable precaution." Mai turned toward the ceiling. "Of course you agree." Shammy took Seras's coat while Mai brought up the final itinerary. "Everything's arranged," Mai said. "We're leaving tonight. The transport will take us directly to the terminal." Seras nodded. "Excellent." "Any last-minute concerns?" "Only the usual." Ace looked interested. "Which are?" "Travelling with you." Ace placed a hand over her heart. "Wounded." "You'll recover." "Eventually." Yukari smiled. "Perhaps by Romania." "Unlikely," Seras replied. Shammy laughed. For a moment, the Vampire Queen looked perfectly at ease. Then her attention shifted to the historical map still displayed on the wall. The old castle. A collection of uncertain lines and disputed locations. Her smile faded slightly. Yukari noticed. She approached Seras without drawing attention to the movement. "Everything all right?" Seras looked toward her. "Yes." "Good." She did not press. Instead, she gestured toward the table. "Tea?" Seras considered. "Please." A few minutes later, the two women sat together while the Triad finished the last preparations. For a while, they discussed ordinary things. The weather in Romania. The journey. Whether the local cuisine would satisfy Ace's rather particular expectations. Seras laughed at the suggestion that their greatest logistical problem might be finding acceptable coffee. But Yukari noticed something else. Every so often, Seras glanced toward the map. Not with fear. Not exactly. With the expression of someone recognizing a place she had hoped never to think about again. Yukari rested a hand lightly against hers. Seras looked up. No words passed between them. None were necessary. The departure from the safehouse involved the customary complications. Brenda insisted on checking the luggage. Ace objected. Brenda ignored her. Iris reminded everyone to stay in contact. Mai confirmed that the household had their itinerary and emergency communications. Shammy distributed hugs. Yukari endured Brenda's affectionate complaints about being left behind. Seras watched the proceedings with growing amusement. "Do you always do this?" Ace looked toward her. "Do what?" "Turn every departure into a family conference." Brenda answered before anyone else. "Only when they go somewhere ridiculous." Ace grinned. "So every time." "Exactly." Iris embraced Mai. "Enjoy yourselves." "We'll try." "And be careful." "Always." Brenda looked at Ace. "No unnecessary explosions." Ace stared. "We're going to a ruined castle." "Exactly. It's ruined enough." Shammy laughed. Yukari smiled. "An excellent observation." Brenda pointed at her. "And you." Yukari blinked innocently. "Yes?" "No encouraging Ace." The kitsune considered. "I shall do my best." Ace groaned. "Nobody believes that." "Quite right," Yukari replied. Even Seras laughed. Finally, after another round of goodbyes, the five women departed. The safehouse's secured upper entrance was closed from inside after they left. Night City waited beyond. And, for once, their destination was a place where none of them expected to encounter corporate soldiers, gang warfare or a malfunctioning piece of experimental technology. Ace regarded that as an encouraging development. Mai regarded it as a pleasant possibility. Shammy simply hoped everyone would enjoy the trip. Yukari was already thinking about old places and older memories. And Seras... Seras looked back toward the city for a moment. Then followed her friends. The terminal was busy. People moved through the building carrying luggage, children, business equipment and the exhausted expressions of travellers who had already experienced far too much airport bureaucracy. Ace looked around. "Something's wrong." Mai sighed. "What now?" "Nobody's shooting." Seras glanced toward her. "Isn't that the objective?" "Normally." "And?" "Nothing going wrong usually means something enormous is saving itself for later." Seras laughed. "You're terribly cynical." "Experienced." "There's a difference?" "Not in Night City." Mai handled the documents. Shammy watched the baggage arrangements. Yukari examined the enormous departure display with quiet amusement. Seras stood beside Ace, observing the crowds. Five women travelling together attracted very little attention. That suited everyone. Their flight was booked aboard a premium long-distance service. Private seating. Sufficient space for the five women. No unnecessary conversations with curious strangers. No awkward recognition of the Vampire Queen. No inconvenient questions about why a small group of women needed specialist exploration equipment delivered to rural Romania. Mai considered the arrangements perfectly acceptable. Ace considered them disappointingly civilized. Yukari considered them delightful. Shammy was mainly pleased that everyone was together. Seras seemed relieved. Once aboard, Ace immediately inspected her seat. Reclining mechanism. Personal display. Refreshments. Adjustable lighting. A surprisingly sophisticated coffee service. She looked toward Mai. "Okay." Mai smiled. "What?" "I withdraw approximately thirty percent of my complaints." "Only thirty?" "The coffee hasn't been tested." Shammy sat beside her. "Would you like me to help?" Ace grinned. "Love, you're speaking my language." Yukari settled opposite Seras. She examined the seat controls. Pressed one. The footrest extended. She looked delighted. Pressed another. The seat reclined. She laughed softly. Seras watched. "You seem very entertained." "Humanity has accomplished remarkable things." Seras glanced toward the seat. "Reclining chairs?" "Comfortable reclining chairs." Ace looked over. "See? She understands progress." Yukari pressed another control. A small privacy partition rose. She studied it. Then lowered it. "Charming." Mai looked toward her. "Please don't dismantle the seat." Yukari smiled. "I wouldn't dream of it." Ace whispered to Shammy. "She's going to dismantle the seat." Shammy whispered back. "Probably." Yukari's ears were human. Her hearing was not. "I heard that." Ace sighed. "Of course you did." The aircraft departed Night City under a sky full of distant artificial light. As the city gradually disappeared beneath them, Ace watched the illuminated coastline recede. She had left Night City many times. For work. For pleasure. For reasons considerably less pleasant than either. Still, there was something satisfying about seeing the city become small. A place that could consume entire lives reduced to a collection of lights beside a dark ocean. Mai reached for her hand. "Thinking?" Ace smiled. "Occasionally." "About?" "How nice it is that nobody's shooting at us." Mai laughed. "A promising beginning." Shammy leaned against Ace's other shoulder. "Perhaps we should enjoy it." Ace looked toward her. "You're both determined to make this a vacation." Mai smiled. "An expedition." Shammy nodded. "With opportunities for relaxation." Ace considered. "Fine. But if we discover a gift shop at Dracula's castle, I'm buying something absolutely ridiculous." From across the cabin, Seras spoke. "Please don't." Ace grinned. "Too late. I've already decided." Seras closed her eyes. "God help us." Yukari smiled. "I believe we're beyond his jurisdiction." Mai began laughing. Dinner arrived. Ace approved of the food. Shammy approved of the dessert. Mai approved of the service. Yukari approved of the tea. Seras watched them all with growing amusement. "You really are like this all the time, aren't you?" Ace looked up. "Like what?" "Ridiculous." "Professionally." Shammy smiled. "We do try." Seras laughed. Then she looked down at her drink. For a moment, something in her expression changed. Yukari noticed. The others were still discussing dessert. Seras had become unusually quiet. Yukari didn't interrupt. She waited. Eventually, Seras looked toward the darkened window. Outside, there was nothing but sky. Yukari followed her gaze. "Would you like some company?" Seras glanced at her. "You are company." "Quieter company." A faint smile. "That would be nice." Yukari moved to the seat beside her. For a while, they watched the darkness together. The aircraft's engines produced a low, continuous sound. Most of the cabin had settled into its overnight rhythm. Ace was explaining to Shammy why emergency chocolate constituted a legitimate expedition supply. Mai was pretending not to listen. Seras looked toward Yukari. "Do you travel much?" "Occasionally." "Europe?" "Many times." "Wallachia?" Yukari considered. "Not recently." Seras smiled faintly. "That's an interesting answer." "I have many interesting answers." "To how many interesting questions?" "Far too many." Seras laughed softly. Then she became quiet again. Yukari waited. Eventually, Seras spoke. "I haven't told Helena everything." Yukari turned toward her. "About the trip?" "About how I feel." "Does she know that?" Seras smiled sadly. "Of course." "Then perhaps she understands more than you think." Seras looked down at her hands. "She knew him." "Alucard." "Yes." Yukari nodded. "Long before you." "Much longer." Seras leaned back. "Sometimes I think that's the strangest part." "What is?" "Helena remembers him from a time I can barely imagine." Yukari listened. "She remembers a different man. Different centuries. Different places. Things he never told me." "And you remember things she never experienced." Seras looked at her. "Yes." Yukari smiled gently. "Then perhaps neither of you carries the whole memory alone." Seras considered that. For a long moment, she said nothing. Then: "I suppose not." The aircraft continued eastward. Seras watched the faint reflection of her face in the window. "I was afraid of him once." Yukari looked toward her. "Alucard?" "Terrified." A small laugh. "He was rather good at that." "I imagine." "He could walk into a room and make everyone inside wish they'd chosen somewhere else to be." Yukari smiled. "That sounds exhausting." "For them, certainly." Seras laughed. Then her expression softened. "But he could be kind." Yukari waited. "Not gentle, necessarily. Not in the way people usually mean it." Seras looked toward the darkness. "Sometimes he did something kind and then spent the next hour making absolutely sure nobody could accuse him of sentimentality." Yukari chuckled. "I've known people like that." "Have you?" "Several." "Did they ever improve?" "Occasionally." Seras smiled. "Alucard didn't." "Not even a little?" Seras thought about it. Then laughed. "Perhaps a little." The smile remained for a moment. Then faded. "I miss him." Yukari gently rested her hand over Seras's. "I know." Seras looked at her. "That's the ridiculous part." "Missing him?" "Yes." "Why?" "Because I knew what he was." Yukari nodded. "You've told me." "He was monstrous." "Yes." "He did terrible things." "Yes." "He was cruel." "Sometimes." Seras looked toward her. "And I still miss him." Yukari's expression remained gentle. "Those things aren't mutually exclusive." Seras considered. "I suppose they aren't." "You can acknowledge everything terrible about someone and still grieve their absence." Seras lowered her eyes. For a moment, her expression became painfully vulnerable. "I wish it were simpler." Yukari squeezed her hand. "So do I." A long silence followed. Comfortable enough that neither woman felt obliged to fill it. Eventually, Seras spoke again. "Can I ask you something?" "Of course." "Have you ever gone back somewhere and wished you hadn't?" Yukari considered. "Yes." Seras looked surprised. "Really?" "More than once." "What happened?" The kitsune looked toward the window. For a long moment, she seemed to be considering which memory belonged to the present conversation. Then she smiled faintly. "Once, I returned to a village where someone very dear to me had lived." Seras listened. "The village was gone." "What happened to it?" "Time." Yukari's answer was quiet. "Nothing dramatic. No war. No curse. No terrible disaster." She looked down at her hands. "People moved away. Buildings collapsed. Roads changed. Trees grew where houses had stood." Seras said nothing. "I remembered a garden," Yukari continued. "A very small garden. The woman who tended it was quite proud of her flowers." A faint smile crossed her face. "She was a terrible gardener." Seras smiled. "Really?" "Absolutely dreadful. Half the plants died. The other half survived out of stubbornness." Seras laughed softly. Yukari continued. "When I returned, there was nothing left of the house." She paused. "But I found a single flower growing near the old foundation." Seras looked toward her. "What did you do?" "I sat beside it." "For how long?" "Until sunset." Seras considered. "And then?" "I went home." Yukari smiled. "And cried." The Vampire Queen looked at her. "That sounds terribly lonely." "It was." A pause. Then Yukari gently squeezed Seras's hand. "Which is why I'm glad you aren't making this journey alone." Seras looked away. Not because she was offended. Because Yukari's words had struck somewhere she hadn't expected. For a moment, she could almost picture the castle. Not the ruins from Mai's research. Not the scattered remnants of stone and mortar. The castle as Alucard had described it. Walls that had once stood whole. Rooms occupied by people who had been dead for centuries. A courtyard. A staircase. A chamber beneath the foundations. And a voice. That impossible, infuriating voice. Seras closed her eyes. Yukari waited. Eventually, the Vampire Queen spoke. "What if it's worse than I expect?" "Then we'll face it." "What if I can't?" Yukari looked at her. "Can't what?" "Go inside." "Then you won't." Seras opened her eyes. Yukari smiled. "We're not going to force you into a place that hurts you." "But the mission..." "Will still be there." Seras sighed. "Collector is paying your friends a ridiculous amount of money." Yukari nodded. "He does seem to enjoy that." "And you would simply let me walk away?" "Of course." Seras looked at her. "Just like that?" "Just like that." For several moments, she said nothing. Then she laughed softly. "You're a very strange woman." "So I've been told." Seras leaned her head back. "And what if I want to go in, but I'm afraid?" Yukari considered. "Then I'll come with you." "That's your solution?" "Yes." "Rather simple." "The best solutions often are." Seras looked at her. Then smiled. "Thank you." Yukari returned the smile. "You're welcome." Some time later, Ace approached carrying two cups. She stopped beside them. "Am I interrupting?" Seras looked up. "No." Ace held out one cup. "Emergency caffeine?" Seras smiled. "I thought you were saving that for Romania." "Different supply." "Of course." Ace offered the second cup to Yukari. "Tea." The kitsune accepted it. "Thank you, beloved." Ace looked between them. Then studied Seras. "You okay?" Seras considered. "Yes." Ace raised an eyebrow. "Real yes, or Vampire Queen yes?" Seras laughed. "What's the difference?" "About six centuries of pretending nothing bothers you." Yukari nearly spilled her tea. Seras stared at Ace. Then began laughing. Loudly. Enough that Mai looked over from her seat. Shammy smiled. Ace grinned. "There she is." Seras wiped a hand across her face. "Goddammit, Ace." "You're welcome." "You really have no sense of self-preservation." "Occupational hazard." Seras looked toward Yukari. "Is she always this terrible?" Yukari smiled. "Frequently worse." Ace pointed at her. "Traitor." "Beloved traitor." Ace sighed. "Fine." Then she looked back at Seras. Her expression softened slightly. "Seriously, though." Seras met her eyes. "We're all here." The Vampire Queen was quiet for a moment. Then she smiled. "I know." Ace nodded. "Good." She turned toward the others. "Now, if you'll excuse me, Mai has discovered an extremely suspicious feature of the entertainment system." Mai looked up. "I have not." Ace grinned. "You've been studying the technical specifications for twenty minutes." "Because they're interesting." "Exactly." Shammy laughed. Seras watched Ace return to her lovers. Then looked toward Yukari. "Your family is extraordinary." Yukari smiled. "Yes." A pause. Then: "And very loud." Seras laughed again. The remainder of the journey passed quietly. Mai slept for several hours. Shammy rested beside Ace, occasionally waking to make sure everyone was comfortable. Ace remained awake longer than she intended, partly because of the entertainment system and partly because she had discovered that the aircraft's coffee was considerably better than expected. Yukari spent much of the night reading. Seras alternated between quiet conversation and watching the stars. At one point, she opened a photograph of the castle ruins. She studied it. Then closed it again. No tears came. Not yet. But something inside her felt closer to the surface than it had in Night City. And for the first time, that didn't seem entirely unbearable. They reached Romania beneath a pale morning sky. The arrival procedures were uneventful. Mai handled the necessary arrangements. Their personal luggage emerged intact. The specialist equipment reserved for the expedition would be collected locally. And the vehicle waiting for them was exactly as promised. Ace examined it. A large, comfortable all-terrain transport with enough space for five passengers and their equipment. She looked toward Mai. "Nice." "Practical." "Expensive." "Collector is paying." Ace grinned. "Even nicer." Shammy looked toward the road beyond the terminal. "Where first?" Mai consulted her itinerary. "We'll establish ourselves near the historical region we're investigating. After that, local records and contacts." Ace nodded. "Straight to Dracula country." Mai sighed. "Wallachia." "Dracula country." "Darling." Ace smiled sweetly. "Yes?" Mai kissed her cheek. "Get in the car." Ace laughed. "Love you too." --- The journey inland took them away from the larger roads. Urban buildings gradually gave way to smaller towns, farmland and forested hills. The landscape changed. Not abruptly. A gradual unfolding of green valleys, distant mountains and settlements that seemed to have survived several different ideas of what the modern world should look like. Yukari watched with obvious appreciation. "Beautiful." Shammy nodded. "Very." Ace glanced toward the distant ridges. "That looks promising." Mai smiled. "Because?" "Mountains. Forests. Ancient castles. Perfect conditions for a vacation." Seras laughed. "You really are determined to enjoy this." "Absolutely." "Even if we don't find the goblet?" Ace considered. "Then we'll have visited Romania, seen some interesting places and eaten whatever the locals consider excellent food." Shammy smiled. "That sounds lovely." Mai nodded. "Agreed." Seras looked toward them. For a moment, she seemed surprised. Then she smiled faintly. "You're not worried about disappointing Collector?" Ace shrugged. "If the goblet isn't there, it isn't there." "We'll do the work properly. That's what he hired us for." Shammy added quietly: "And we're not going to destroy a historical site merely to make a delivery." Seras looked at them. Then toward Yukari. The kitsune smiled. "You see?" Seras sighed. "Yes." A moment passed. Then she laughed softly. "I think I'm beginning to understand why Collector likes you." Ace grinned. "Because we're charming?" Mai looked at her. "Because we're reliable." Shammy smiled. "Both can be true." Yukari nodded. "Although the definitions of charming may vary." Ace threw her hands up. "OH, COME ON!" The vehicle filled with laughter. --- Their accommodation had been arranged in a small town within reasonable travelling distance of the region they intended to investigate. It was comfortable. Quiet. And, to Ace's considerable satisfaction, possessed an excellent kitchen. The proprietor welcomed them politely. Five women travelling together attracted some curiosity, but nothing particularly unusual. At least not until Seras asked about the old castle. The man's expression changed. Only slightly. But enough for Mai to notice. "Which castle?" he asked. Mai described the approximate region. The man became quiet. He looked toward Seras. Then toward the others. "Why would you want to go there?" Ace smiled. "Historical research." The man studied her. "History." "Yes." He glanced toward the window. Then back at them. "There are places people should leave alone." Seras said nothing. Yukari noticed the tension in her shoulders. Mai remained polite. "We understand the ruins may be dangerous." The proprietor shook his head. "Not only the stones." Ace raised an eyebrow. "What else?" The man hesitated. Then lowered his voice. "Old stories." Seras looked at him. "What stories?" The man seemed uncertain. For a moment, he looked as though he regretted speaking at all. Then he said: "About the prince." The room became quiet. Seras's expression remained composed. But Yukari saw the subtle change in her eyes. Mai spoke gently. "Vlad Țepeș?" The man nodded. He glanced toward the doorway. Then lowered his voice further. "Some people say he never truly left that place." Ace opened her mouth. Mai placed a hand on her arm. A gentle warning. Not yet. The proprietor continued. "Others say his grave was never where the priests claimed." Seras went very still. The man looked toward her. For a moment, he seemed almost uncomfortable meeting her eyes. Then he shook his head. "Forgive me. It is only superstition." Seras smiled politely. "Of course." The man nodded. "But if you're serious about going there..." He hesitated. "Speak to the older people in the village. They remember things that aren't written down." Mai nodded. "Thank you." The proprietor handed over their room access details. And the conversation ended. Later, as they carried their luggage upstairs, Ace leaned toward Mai. "Well." Mai smiled. "Yes?" "That was promising." "Information about local oral history?" "An ominous warning from an innkeeper." Mai sighed. "Ace." "What? It's practically traditional." Shammy laughed. Yukari, walking beside Seras, smiled faintly. "Humans do love their stories." Seras didn't answer immediately. She looked toward the window at the end of the corridor. Beyond it, the countryside stretched toward distant mountains. Somewhere beyond those hills stood the remains of a castle. A place she knew through the memories and stories of someone who had been gone for far too long. Finally, she spoke. "Yes." Her voice was quiet. "They do." Yukari looked at her. Seras continued. "And sometimes..." She paused. "...sometimes the stories are all that's left." Yukari gently touched her arm. Seras looked toward her. The kitsune smiled. "We'll take our time." Seras returned the smile. "Thank you." They continued down the corridor together. That evening, the five women gathered around a table to review the next day's plans. Mai had identified several possible local sources. A small historical archive. An older church registry. Two families whose ancestors had lived in the region for generations. And a retired historian who had published several papers on disputed medieval burial sites. Ace studied the list. "No haunted graveyards?" Mai looked at her. "Not on the itinerary." "Disappointing." Shammy smiled. "We can always visit one if you're feeling nostalgic." Ace stared. "LOVE." Yukari laughed. Seras smiled. Then she looked toward the map. The old castle was marked only as an approximate location. A few uncertain lines. Some surviving historical references. And a name. She reached toward the display. Her fingers stopped just above it. For a moment, she remembered a voice. A deep laugh. A remark about kings, graves and the ridiculous persistence of human curiosity. Then the memory faded. Seras withdrew her hand. Yukari noticed. But said nothing. Not yet. Outside, the last light disappeared behind the hills. The old land settled into darkness. And somewhere beyond the forests, beneath centuries of broken stone, the past waited patiently for five extraordinary women to come looking for it. --- ## Chapter 4 — The Land of Superstitions The first thing Ace learned about rural Wallachia was that breakfast could be excellent. The second was that asking questions about Vlad Țepeș before finishing breakfast was apparently considered extremely poor manners. The third was that these two facts were related. "You're doing it again," Mai observed. Ace looked up from her plate. "Doing what?" "Trying to interrogate the proprietor." "I'm making conversation." "About Dracula." "He's a local historical figure." "At seven thirty in the morning." Ace considered. "History doesn't have business hours." Shammy smiled into her coffee. Yukari, seated beside Seras, looked delighted. "A compelling argument." "Thank you." "Utterly inappropriate, of course." Ace pointed her fork at the kitsune. "Traitor." "Beloved traitor." Seras laughed. It was a welcome sound. She had been quieter than usual during breakfast, occasionally glancing toward the hills visible beyond the dining room windows. The countryside was beautiful. Old stone buildings stood alongside newer constructions. Narrow streets wound between houses whose architecture reflected several centuries of additions, repairs and stubborn persistence. Beyond the town, forested slopes rose toward the mountains. Somewhere among them lay the remains of a castle. And possibly the answer to a question that had survived for centuries. Mai closed her tablet. "All right. We have three appointments." Ace looked interested. "With whom?" "The local historical archivist, a retired teacher whose family has maintained regional records for generations, and a historian who specializes in disputed medieval sites." "Excellent." "There's also a family the proprietor recommended." Ace grinned. "The mysterious old people who know things?" Mai sighed. "A family with an established tradition of preserving local oral history." "That's what I said." Shammy laughed. Seras took another sip of her tea. "You're going to have an interesting day." Ace looked toward her. "You're coming with us." "I know." "Then we're all having an interesting day." Yukari smiled. "At least nobody has threatened to burn us at the stake." Seras raised an eyebrow. "Yet." Ace stared at her. "YOU TOO?" The Vampire Queen smiled sweetly. "I'm learning from the best." --- The town's historical archive occupied part of an old municipal building. Its entrance was unremarkable. The interior was considerably more interesting. Shelves of preserved documents stood behind modern security glass. Climate-control equipment hummed quietly, and a series of digital catalog terminals provided access to records that had been scanned over several generations. An elderly woman with silver-framed glasses greeted them. She introduced herself as Irina Petrescu. Her expression was professionally polite until Mai explained the purpose of their visit. "We're investigating historical accounts concerning a possible original burial chamber associated with Vlad III." Irina stopped typing. Then looked over her glasses. "Which burial chamber?" Mai smiled. "That's what we're trying to establish." The archivist studied her for several seconds. Then nodded approvingly. "At least you're beginning with the correct question." Ace leaned toward Shammy. "I like her." Irina heard her. "That may change." Ace grinned. "Definitely like her." They spent the next hour examining maps. Most were reproductions. Some were careful historical reconstructions. Others were obvious products of later romantic fascination with Dracula. Irina displayed one particularly elaborate illustration. It depicted a vast Gothic fortress perched above a valley, complete with towering spires, elaborate battlements and a spectacular moon rising behind it. Ace stared. "Now that's a castle." Irina nodded. "An entirely fictional one." Ace's shoulders dropped. "You're ruining my holiday." "It was painted nearly four hundred years after Vlad's death." "Still impressive." "Very." Mai examined the catalog information. "Does this illustration have any connection to the original site?" "Only in the imagination of the artist." Seras leaned closer. "He would have hated that." Irina glanced toward her. "Vlad?" Seras nodded. "Too decorative." The archivist smiled. "A reasonable assessment." Yukari covered a small laugh with her hand. Ace looked toward Seras. "You're enjoying this." "A little." "Good." Eventually, Irina opened a less impressive document. It was a digital reproduction of a handwritten account, apparently copied from an older source. The original language had been translated and annotated. Mai leaned forward. "This is interesting." Ace sighed. "Here we go." Irina smiled. "Your companion appears to enjoy research." "She enjoys research more than normal people enjoy breathing." Mai ignored her. The document described a fortified residence, subsequently abandoned, whose lower structures were believed to contain an earlier chamber associated with the prince. The description was incomplete. Its author had never personally entered the chamber. Instead, the account repeated statements attributed to older residents. Mai examined the annotations. "How reliable is the source?" "Moderately useful, historically uncertain." "Can you establish the date of the original account?" "Not precisely." "And the location?" Irina enlarged a passage. "That's the difficulty." The text referred to a road that no longer appeared on modern maps. A ruined crossing. A hillside whose name had changed. And a structure described as the prince's old residence. Ace leaned forward. "So we're looking for a road nobody uses, a bridge that doesn't exist, and a castle that might not be where anyone thinks it is." Irina nodded. "Essentially." Ace considered. "Wonderful." Shammy studied the document. "Does the description mention the landscape?" Irina looked toward her. "Yes." Shammy pointed to a passage. "Here." Mai enlarged it. The translated text described a narrow valley where two streams met beneath a wooded ridge. Beyond that junction, a steep route climbed toward the remains of the fortification. Mai studied the modern terrain data. "Two streams." Irina nodded. "That detail has interested several researchers." "Have they identified the location?" "Three different possibilities." Ace looked at Mai. "Of course." Irina smiled. "History is rarely considerate." They examined the three proposed locations. One had been developed into farmland. Another lay beneath a modern road. The third was considerably more remote. Mai rotated the terrain display. "Interesting." Ace leaned closer. "What's interesting?" "The third location." Irina nodded. "Yes." "It's the only one where the surviving terrain appears consistent with a steep approach from a stream junction." "Correct." "But the published reconstruction places the castle farther east." "Also correct." Seras had been silent for several minutes. Now she leaned toward the display. "May I?" Mai moved aside. Seras studied the contour lines. Then frowned. "No." Irina looked curious. "No?" "That approach is wrong." She pointed toward the eastern ridge. "Not there." Mai watched carefully. "Why?" Seras hesitated. Then chose her words. "An old account I know describes a route that approached from the opposite side." Irina became interested. "Which account?" "A private historical source." "Do you have a copy?" "Not with me." Irina considered. "Then I would be reluctant to accept it as evidence." Seras smiled. "So would I." That surprised the archivist. Seras continued. "Memory is not documentation. Even very old memory." Yukari looked toward her. A small smile appeared. Mai nodded approvingly. "Then we should compare the route against the terrain rather than assuming either source is correct." Irina turned toward her terminal. "Now that is a sensible proposal." Ace leaned back. "I have never seen so many women become this excited about a hill." Shammy smiled. "It's a very interesting hill." Ace looked at her. "Darling." "Yes?" "You're making it worse." By the time they left the archive, Mai had acquired a considerable amount of useful information. None of it established the castle's location conclusively. But the third proposed route deserved closer examination. Irina had also suggested speaking with the older residents of a nearby village. "They remember names that have disappeared from the maps," she explained. Mai thanked her. Seras paused before leaving. "May I ask you something?" Irina looked up. "Of course." "What do people here think of Vlad?" The archivist considered the question. "Which people?" Seras smiled faintly. "Fair answer." Irina removed her glasses. "Some regard him as a brutal ruler. Others emphasize his resistance to foreign powers. Some admire his severity. Others remember the cruelty." She looked toward Seras. "And many know almost nothing of the historical man. They know Dracula." Seras nodded. "Yes." Irina continued. "History is uncomfortable because people are rarely as simple as the stories told about them." For a moment, Seras looked almost startled. Then she smiled. "Quite." Irina replaced her glasses. "Did you know that some of the most frightening local stories aren't about what he did after death?" Seras looked toward her. "What are they about?" "What he did while alive." Silence. Irina returned to her terminal. "Good luck with your research." Seras stood quietly for another moment. Then followed the others outside. The sunlight was pleasant. Birds moved among the trees lining the street. A delivery vehicle passed, its driver arguing with someone over a communication link. Life continued with cheerful indifference to the fifteenth century. Ace stretched. "Well." Mai smiled. "Useful?" "Extremely." Ace looked at the nearby café. "Coffee?" Mai sighed. "We just had breakfast." "And now we've done history." "Which naturally requires coffee." "Exactly." Shammy laughed. "I'd like some." Yukari nodded. "Tea would be lovely." Seras smiled. "I could use something too." Mai looked around at four expectant faces. Then surrendered. "Fine." Ace raised both arms. "DEMOCRACY!" The café was small. Its outdoor tables overlooked a quiet square. A few elderly residents sat nearby, conversing in Romanian. The owner greeted the five visitors with friendly curiosity. Mai ordered for the group. Ace approved of the coffee. This became an important development. She insisted on announcing it. "Excellent." Mai looked up. "What?" "The coffee." "Good." "Very good." Shammy smiled. "Then the emergency supply can remain packed." Ace considered. "Let's not be reckless." Seras laughed. Yukari watched the square. Her attention shifted toward a small religious shrine beside one of the buildings. Fresh flowers had been placed beneath it. Several candles stood in protective glass holders. An elderly woman approached the shrine, crossed herself, and continued walking. Yukari tilted her head. "People still observe the old customs." Seras followed her gaze. "Some do." Ace looked toward them. "That's not unusual." "No," Yukari agreed. "But some customs survive long after people forget why they began." Seras was quiet. Then she said: "Some are worth remembering." Yukari looked toward her. "Yes." Their second appointment was with a retired teacher named Mihai Drăgan. He lived in a modest house at the edge of the older village. The home was surrounded by fruit trees. A small vegetable garden occupied the southern side. And an elderly dog lay in the shade beside the entrance. The dog lifted its head when the five women approached. Then looked toward Yukari. For a moment, the two regarded each other. Yukari smiled. The dog thumped its tail. Ace noticed. "Of course." Yukari looked innocent. "What?" "Even the dogs like you." "Why shouldn't they?" Ace considered. "Fair." The front door opened. A thin man with a neatly trimmed beard stepped outside. "You must be the researchers." Mai smiled. "Mr. Drăgan?" "Please. Mihai." He looked toward the group. "Five of you?" "Yes." He considered. "Well. Come in." Mihai's living room was filled with books. Not decorative books. Used books. Many had handwritten notes tucked between their pages. Others were stacked beside a large wooden desk. Photographs of family members occupied one wall. A framed map hung above the fireplace. Mihai gestured toward the chairs. "Tea?" Yukari smiled. "Yes, please." Ace leaned toward Mai. "She's going to love this country." Mai laughed quietly. Mihai returned with tea and a plate of small pastries. Shammy immediately looked interested. Ace noticed. "Love." "Yes?" "Don't eat all of them." Shammy gave her an innocent smile. "Of course not." Yukari laughed. Seras took a seat near the window. Mihai settled opposite Mai. "Now. Tell me what you're looking for." Mai explained the investigation. The historical references. The disputed castle location. The local belief concerning Vlad's original burial vault. Mihai listened without interrupting. When she finished, he leaned back. "You're not the first people to ask." Ace raised an eyebrow. "Really?" "No." "How many?" "Over the years? Quite a few." "Researchers?" "Some." "Treasure hunters?" "More than I'd like." Mai nodded. "And what happened?" Mihai smiled faintly. "Mostly they became disappointed." Ace grinned. "That's reassuring." "Some found old walls. Others found collapsed farm buildings. One group spent two weeks excavating what turned out to be a nineteenth-century drainage system." Shammy laughed softly. "How unfortunate." "For them, certainly." Mihai looked toward Mai. "The problem is that people come looking for a legend. They expect the land to arrange itself accordingly." "And it doesn't." "No." He leaned forward. "The land doesn't care what people believe." Seras looked toward him. For a moment, her expression softened. "Quite true." Mihai opened an old notebook. Its pages were yellowed. The handwriting differed from entry to entry. "My grandfather kept these." Mai leaned closer. "Oral accounts?" "Yes." "May we examine them?" "Carefully." "Of course." Mihai turned several pages. "There was an old story about a road." Ace smiled. "Another road." Mihai looked toward her. "Miss?" "Sorry. We've been collecting roads today." He chuckled. "Then you may appreciate this one." He pointed toward an entry. According to the account, a narrow track once climbed from a wooded valley toward the prince's old stronghold. It had fallen out of use after a series of collapses and landslides. Later residents avoided the area. Some claimed it was dangerous because of unstable ground. Others offered less practical explanations. Mai examined the writing. "Does it mention the streams?" Mihai looked surprised. "Which streams?" "The two that meet below the ridge." He stared at her. Then slowly smiled. "Ah." Ace looked between them. "Oh, that's promising." Mihai turned another page. "Yes. My grandfather wrote about them." The notebook described a place where two waters joined. Beyond it, the remains of an old crossing had once marked the beginning of the ascent. Mai glanced toward Shammy. Shammy nodded. "The same feature." Seras leaned forward. "Does the account say anything about the castle itself?" Mihai considered. "Only that the path led toward the prince's walls." He turned another page. "And that the lower chambers were sealed long before the upper ruins became inaccessible." The room became quiet. Mai looked up. "Lower chambers?" Mihai nodded. "That was the belief." Ace leaned closer. "Belief?" "Yes." "Not a documented fact?" "No." Mai smiled. "Thank you for making the distinction." Mihai returned the smile. "You'd be surprised how few people appreciate it." Then he closed the notebook. And looked toward Seras. "You've been very quiet." Seras smiled politely. "I'm listening." "You're interested in the prince?" "Yes." Mihai studied her for a moment. "Then perhaps you've heard the stories." "Some." "About the forest?" Seras went still. Yukari noticed immediately. Ace looked curious. "What forest?" Mihai sighed. "The forest of the impaled." He spoke without theatrical emphasis. "There are accounts of Ottoman soldiers and others being executed by impalement in enormous numbers. The stories grew over time. Some may be exaggerated. Others describe cruelty so severe that exaggeration hardly seems necessary." Mai nodded. "Historical accounts differ considerably." "Yes." Mihai looked toward Seras again. "My grandfather used to say the prince ate while the dead and dying hung around him." Ace glanced toward Shammy. The breakfast conversation from the previous evening suddenly seemed less amusing. Mihai continued. "People tell that story as though it makes him a creature from a nightmare." Seras looked down at her hands. "And what do you think?" The old teacher considered. "I think men are capable of terrible things without becoming supernatural monsters." Silence. Then Seras looked up. "Yes." Her voice was very quiet. "They are." Mihai continued speaking. Not to frighten them. Not to entertain himself. Simply because he had spent much of his life trying to separate local history from folklore. "Vlad is remembered here in contradictory ways. A defender. A tyrant. A murderer. A ruler who imposed order through terror." "Those aren't necessarily mutually exclusive descriptions." "Exactly." He smiled faintly. "The dead are rarely considerate enough to leave simple biographies." Seras looked toward the window. For a moment, she heard another voice. Deep. Amused. Terribly confident. *They will remember the stakes, police girl. They will forget the reasons.* She closed her eyes. The memory passed. Yukari gently touched her hand beneath the table. Seras opened her eyes. The kitsune didn't speak. She only smiled. Seras returned the gesture. Small. Grateful. Then she looked back toward Mihai. "Thank you." The old teacher nodded. "For what?" "For speaking about history rather than mythology." He considered. "That's a rather generous distinction." "Perhaps." Their discussion continued for another hour. Mihai supplied copies of several notebook entries. He also identified the family that had once maintained the road leading toward the abandoned crossing. That family, he explained, had long since moved to another village. But some descendants still lived nearby. Mai added the information to her research. Then asked one final question. "Why did people stop using the road?" Mihai considered. "The practical answer?" "Preferably." "Flooding. Erosion. Collapses. The crossing became unsafe." "And the other answer?" He smiled. "Because the prince's dead were supposed to walk there." Ace raised an eyebrow. "Ah." Mihai looked amused. "That story is older than my grandfather." "Do you believe it?" "No." "Not even a little?" Mihai shrugged. "I believe people become frightened of dangerous places. Then they invent stories explaining why they're frightened." Shammy smiled. "A sensible explanation." "Usually." Seras looked toward him. "Usually?" Mihai met her eyes. "Well, I wouldn't recommend walking through a collapsing ruin merely to prove you aren't afraid of ghosts." Ace laughed. "Fair point." Mihai smiled. "Respect the stones. They can kill you without any supernatural assistance." Mai nodded. "That is very good advice." Outside, the afternoon had become warmer. The old dog was still lying beside the doorway. As the group prepared to leave, it rose and approached Yukari. She crouched beside it. "Hello again." The dog sniffed her hand. Then pressed its head against her palm. Yukari smiled and scratched behind its ears. Mihai watched. "He doesn't usually like strangers." Ace looked toward him. "She's very good with animals." Yukari glanced up. "Most of them." Shammy smiled. Ace raised an eyebrow. "Most?" Yukari's eyes gleamed. "Some humans are more difficult." Seras began laughing. Mihai shook his head with amusement. "You are an unusual group." Mai smiled. "We've been told." He looked toward Seras. "One more thing." She turned. "Yes?" "If you find the old castle..." He paused. "Don't expect the stories to be waiting there." Seras studied him. "What should we expect?" "Broken stones. Empty rooms. Perhaps nothing more." For a moment, she said nothing. Then nodded. "Thank you." Mihai smiled. "Good luck." --- Their next stop was a village considerably smaller than the town where they were staying. The road narrowed as they travelled. Stone houses appeared between gardens and low fences. Several buildings were modern. Others had been repaired so many times that their original construction was difficult to identify. Ace watched the scenery. "Nice place." Shammy nodded. "Very peaceful." Mai examined the route. "The family we're looking for lives near the old eastern road." Yukari looked toward the hills. "Old roads are interesting." Ace grinned. "Because they're old?" "Because people rarely abandon useful roads without a reason." Mai nodded. "Exactly." Ace sighed. "Research has infected everyone." Seras smiled. "Perhaps you should try it." "I do research." "Really?" "Extensively." "On what?" Ace considered. "Coffee." Yukari nodded solemnly. "A worthy academic discipline." Shammy began laughing. Mai shook her head. --- The family home stood beside an overgrown orchard. A woman in her seventies greeted them at the gate. Her name was Ana Ionescu. She had been expecting Mai's visit. She welcomed them politely, though her expression became noticeably guarded when Mai mentioned the old castle. "People keep asking about that place." "We understand." "Most of them don't listen." "We will." Ana studied her. Then looked toward the others. Her gaze lingered briefly on Seras. Something in her expression changed. Not recognition. Certainly not knowledge. Only the instinctive caution of someone who had lived long enough to understand that appearances rarely told the whole story. "Come inside," she said. Ana's home smelled of fresh bread and herbs. She offered refreshments. Ace accepted immediately. Mai thanked her. Shammy looked delighted. Yukari admired the small collection of embroidered cloths displayed along one wall. Seras remained near the window. Ana noticed. "Do you like the view?" Seras smiled. "Very much." "My grandmother used to say the mountains remember everything." Yukari looked up. "An interesting thought." Ana shrugged. "Old people say things." Shammy smiled. "Sometimes they say very wise things." The woman laughed. "Sometimes we just enjoy confusing the young." Ace looked toward Yukari. "Sound familiar?" Yukari smiled sweetly. "Immensely." Ana listened to Mai's explanation. Then she disappeared into another room. When she returned, she carried a small wooden box. Inside were several old photographs, handwritten notes and a folded map. "My father kept these." Mai leaned forward. "May we?" Ana nodded. "Carefully." The photographs showed an old track running through wooded terrain. One image depicted a ruined stone crossing. Another showed a narrow pathway climbing toward a ridge. Mai examined them. "Do you know when these were taken?" Ana nodded. "Before I was born. My grandfather took some of them." She pointed to the crossing. "That was the old bridge." Ace leaned closer. "The one the teacher mentioned?" Mai nodded. "Possibly." Ana continued. "The road beyond it was already dangerous." "Did anyone still use it?" "Sometimes. Hunters. Shepherds. Foolish young men trying to impress girls." Ace smiled. "A timeless tradition." Ana laughed. "Indeed." Then she pointed toward the ridge. "My grandfather said the path led to the prince's walls." Seras looked up. "The prince's walls?" Ana nodded. "That's what people called them." Mai examined the photograph. "Did your grandfather ever reach the ruins?" "Yes." The answer came immediately. Ace leaned forward. "Really?" Ana smiled. "He said there wasn't much left." "Did he describe them?" "A few walls. Fallen stones. An old courtyard." Seras went very still. Yukari noticed. Ana continued. "He also said there were places where the ground sounded hollow." Mai looked interested. "Hollow?" "Yes." "Did he investigate?" Ana shook her head. "No." "Why?" "Because he wasn't an idiot." Ace began laughing. Ana smiled. "The stones were unstable. He said the whole place looked ready to collapse." Mai nodded. "Reasonable." "Very." Ana closed the box. "That's why I don't understand people who insist the place is haunted." Seras looked toward her. "You don't believe it?" Ana shrugged. "If you fall through an old floor and break your neck, does it matter whether a ghost pushed you?" Ace stared. Then laughed. "Okay. I really like you." Ana smiled. "Good. Then don't go climbing around those ruins without proper equipment." "We won't." But Ana had another story. One she seemed reluctant to tell. It emerged only after the conversation turned toward the burial chamber. "My grandmother believed the prince had been buried beneath the castle." "We've heard similar accounts." Ana looked toward the window. "She said the chamber was sealed after his death." Seras listened carefully. "Did she say who sealed it?" Ana shook her head. "No." "Or why?" "To keep something inside." Silence. Ace raised an eyebrow. "Something?" Ana gave her a weary look. "The prince, according to the story." Seras smiled faintly. "Naturally." Ana continued. "People said he would rise from the grave." Ace glanced toward Seras. Seras looked back. Neither spoke. Yukari hid a smile behind her teacup. Ana sighed. "I never believed that nonsense." Mai looked curious. "Why not?" "Because my grandmother said the same thing about a neighbor who refused to pay his debts." Ace burst out laughing. Even Seras joined in. Ana smiled. "She was a very suspicious woman." Shammy laughed softly. "A useful quality, sometimes." "Indeed." The conversation gradually turned toward ordinary village life. Ana spoke about her grandchildren. About the changing countryside. About farms that had disappeared and roads that had been widened. She explained how several local place names had gradually fallen out of use. Mai recorded the information with her permission. Some names appeared in the old notebook. Others corresponded to features in the photographs. One name, however, caught Seras's attention. Ana had mentioned a ridge known locally as the Black Prince's Shoulder. Seras looked toward her. "Would you repeat that name?" Ana did. Seras listened. Then frowned slightly. "Interesting." Mai turned. "Do you recognize it?" Seras hesitated. "Not directly." "Something similar?" "Perhaps." Yukari watched her. Seras continued. "Alucard once described a route beneath an old ridge. He used a different name." Ana looked curious. "Alucard?" Ace answered before anyone else could. "An old historical source." Mai gave her a grateful glance. Seras smiled. "Very old." Ana nodded. "Well, names change." "Yes," Seras said quietly. "They do." --- By late afternoon, the group had collected enough information to begin forming a clearer picture. The castle's location remained uncertain. But the combination of the old road, the ruined crossing and the ridge suggested a promising area. Mai spread the documents across a table back at their accommodation. Ace brought coffee. Shammy prepared a light meal. Yukari settled beside Seras. The wall display filled with maps. "All right," Mai said. "We have several independent references to the same general features." Ace nodded. "Two streams." "Yes." "A ruined bridge." "Yes." "An old road." "Yes." "A dangerous hill." Mai smiled. "Possibly." "And a castle nobody can agree on." "Precisely." Ace leaned back. "Excellent progress." Shammy laughed. Yukari examined the map. "Actually, it is excellent progress." Ace looked toward her. "Really?" "Yes." She pointed toward the terrain. "The old descriptions may disagree about distances, but they agree about the relationship between the features." Mai nodded. "Exactly." Seras leaned forward. She studied the map carefully. Then pointed toward a narrow valley. "There." Mai looked up. "Where?" Seras indicated a stretch of terrain between two wooded slopes. "That." Mai enlarged the area. A narrow stream ran through it. Another joined from the north. Beyond the junction, the land rose sharply. Seras looked at the contours. Then closed her eyes. For a moment, she could almost hear him. Alucard. Talking about old roads. About soldiers who had marched beneath the walls. About a steep approach that made movement difficult for men carrying heavy equipment. She remembered laughing at his complaints. He had been quite capable of making six centuries seem like a minor inconvenience. Seras opened her eyes. "I think that's the valley." Mai studied her. "How certain?" Seras considered. "Not entirely." "That's fine." She looked toward the map again. "But it feels familiar." Yukari gently touched her shoulder. Seras smiled faintly. "Not because I've been there." Mai nodded. "Because of his descriptions." "Yes." Ace looked toward her. "Then it's worth checking." Seras glanced at her. "You think so?" "Absolutely." "Even without proof?" Ace shrugged. "We're investigating. That's how we get proof." Seras smiled. "Fair enough." They spent another hour comparing the old photographs with modern terrain data. Gradually, the possibilities narrowed. One proposed location could be discarded. The old crossing had probably been farther west. Another was inconsistent with the slope described in Mihai's notebook. The third remained promising. Mai highlighted it. "This is our best candidate." Ace nodded. "How do we get there?" "There's a modern road to a nearby settlement. Beyond that, the older route becomes uncertain." "Vehicle access?" "Partway." "Walking?" "Almost certainly." Ace smiled. "Now we're getting somewhere." Shammy looked toward the terrain model. "That slope is steep." "Yes," Mai agreed. "And potentially unstable." "Exactly." Yukari examined the map. "We should inspect the approach before committing to the climb." Mai nodded. "Agreed." Seras remained quiet. She looked at the highlighted ridge. For the first time since arriving in Romania, the castle felt less like an abstract historical destination. It was becoming real. A place they might actually reach. A place whose stones might still hold some trace of the man she remembered. And that realization unsettled her more than she wanted to admit. --- Later that evening, Seras stepped outside. The accommodation had a small garden. Nothing elaborate. A few trees. A narrow path. Flowers growing near an old stone wall. The air was cool. The mountains stood dark against the fading sky. Seras rested her hands on the wall. For a while, she simply looked toward the distant ridges. She remembered Alucard speaking about his homeland. Not often. And rarely with affection. He had described its wars. Its betrayals. Its cruelty. The endless struggle of rulers who believed themselves indispensable. And occasionally, almost by accident, he had mentioned something beautiful. A valley. A river. A sunrise over the mountains. Those details had always surprised her. Because Alucard rarely seemed interested in beauty unless he could make someone uncomfortable by mentioning it. Seras smiled faintly. "You absolute bastard." The words were affectionate. And painful. Behind her, footsteps approached. Yukari. The kitsune stopped beside her. "Beautiful evening." Seras nodded. "Yes." "Thinking about him?" Seras laughed softly. "Am I that obvious?" "To me?" "Apparently." Yukari leaned against the wall. For a while, they watched the mountains together. Then Seras spoke. "He used to talk about this country as though it had personally offended him." Yukari smiled. "That sounds exhausting." "It was." A pause. "Sometimes he'd describe a battle. Or a ruler. Or some terrible thing he'd done." Seras looked down. "And then he'd mention something completely ordinary. A road. A village. The smell of rain." Yukari listened. "It always seemed strange." "Why?" "Because I kept forgetting he'd once been human." The words hung between them. Seras continued. "Not just a vampire. Not just Alucard." She looked toward the distant hills. "A man." Yukari nodded. "Yes." "A cruel man." "Yes." "A complicated man." "Most are." Seras laughed softly. "That's a very diplomatic answer." "I've had practice." Seras smiled. Then the smile faded. "Sometimes I think I knew him better than anyone." Yukari waited. "Other times I think I barely knew him at all." "Both may be true." Seras looked toward her. "That doesn't sound very reassuring." Yukari smiled gently. "It isn't meant to be." "Then what is it?" "An observation." Seras considered. "You're very good at those." "Occasionally." The silence returned. This time, it lasted longer. Then Seras spoke again. "I don't know what I'll feel when we reach the castle." Yukari nodded. "That's understandable." "I might laugh." "Perhaps." "I might be angry." "Also possible." "I might..." She stopped. Yukari turned toward her. Seras looked away. "I don't know." The kitsune gently placed a hand over hers. "You don't have to know yet." Seras closed her eyes. For a moment, the memories pressed closer. Alucard's laughter. His arrogance. His impossible confidence. His infuriating habit of speaking about death as though it were an inconvenience reserved for lesser beings. And his absence. Always his absence. Seras opened her eyes. "I hate this." Yukari nodded. "I know." "I hate that a ridiculous old drinking cup can make me feel like this." "Yes." "I hate that I'm afraid of a ruined castle." Yukari smiled faintly. "You're not afraid of the castle." Seras looked toward her. "No?" "You're afraid of what you'll remember when you see it." The Vampire Queen stared at her. Then looked away. For a long moment, she said nothing. Finally: "Yes." Yukari squeezed her hand. "Then we'll take it one step at a time." Seras laughed quietly. "You make everything sound so simple." "Not everything." "No?" "Certainly not you." Seras looked at her. Then burst out laughing. "Goddammit, Yukari." The kitsune smiled. "Better?" "A little." "Good." --- Inside, Ace was examining the next day's route. Mai sat beside her. Shammy leaned against the back of Ace's chair. The map displayed a narrow valley. A ruined crossing. And the probable beginning of an abandoned road. Ace traced the route with one finger. "That's a lot of climbing." Mai nodded. "Potentially." "Good." Mai looked at her. "Good?" "Finally, something I understand." Shammy smiled. "Mountains?" "Yes." "Broken roads?" "Yes." "Ancient ruins?" "Yes." Mai raised an eyebrow. "And historical research?" Ace considered. "That's your department." Mai laughed. Ace grinned. "Teamwork." Shammy kissed the top of her head. "An excellent arrangement." Ace leaned back against her. For a moment, the three women simply enjoyed the quiet. Then Ace looked toward the garden. Yukari and Seras stood together beside the old stone wall. Seras was laughing. Not loudly. Not with her usual theatrical confidence. But genuinely. Ace smiled. "Good." Mai followed her gaze. "Yes." Shammy rested a hand on Ace's shoulder. "She needs this." Ace nodded. "Yeah." A moment passed. Then she looked back toward the map. "And tomorrow we go find the road." Mai smiled. "Tomorrow we investigate the road." Ace sighed. "You're doing it again." "Precision matters." "Not when I'm trying to sound dramatic." Shammy laughed. --- Later, as the household settled into sleep, Seras remained awake. She sat near the window of her room, looking toward the mountains. The old country was quiet. Different from Night City. No endless neon. No distant gunfire. No corporate towers cutting the skyline. Only darkness. Wind. And the faint sounds of a village preparing for another ordinary night. Seras rested her hands in her lap. She thought about the stories she'd heard. The prince. The impaled. The cruelty. The fear. The old superstition that he might rise from his grave. She almost laughed. If only they knew. Then the thought faded. Because beneath the legend was someone she had known. Someone who had shaped her life. Someone whose absence had never truly become easier to understand. Seras looked toward the mountains. "Well, Alucard." Her voice was barely above a whisper. "Here we are." She waited. Of course, there was no answer. There hadn't been one for a very long time. She closed her eyes. And, somewhere beyond the dark forests, the ruins of an ancient castle waited beneath the weight of six centuries. No monsters guarded its walls. No supernatural curse stirred beneath its foundations. Only broken stone. Forgotten passages. And a history that had never needed ghosts to become frightening. --- ## Chapter 5 — The Road to the Castle The morning began with an argument about boots. Not weapons. Not ancient curses. Not the historical reliability of six-hundred-year-old accounts. Boots. "Absolutely not," Mai said. Ace looked down at her footwear. "What's wrong with them?" "They're not suitable for what we're doing." "They're perfectly good boots." "For Night City." "They've survived worse than a Romanian hillside." "That isn't the point." Ace folded her arms. "Then what is?" Mai held up a pair of reinforced hiking boots. "These have proper ankle support, appropriate soles, and traction designed for loose rock." Ace studied them. Then looked at her own boots. Then back at Mai. "Mine are prettier." Shammy, standing beside the equipment cases, began laughing. Yukari looked up from her tea. "An important consideration." Mai pointed at her. "Don't." Yukari smiled. "I said nothing unreasonable." "You were about to." "Possibly." Seras, meanwhile, was sitting at the breakfast table, watching the proceedings with considerable amusement. "Do you two argue about everything?" Ace turned. "Only when Mai is wrong." Mai raised an eyebrow. "So frequently, then?" "Exactly." Shammy leaned over and kissed Ace's cheek. "Put the hiking boots on, sweetie." Ace stared at her. "Betrayal." "Practical betrayal." "The worst kind." Nevertheless, five minutes later, Ace was wearing the hiking boots. Mai looked satisfied. Seras looked disappointed. "I was enjoying that." Ace pointed at her. "Don't worry. There'll be another argument." Yukari took another sip of tea. "Almost certainly." --- By eight thirty, their equipment was packed into the vehicle. Mai had divided the load carefully. The main exploration equipment remained in two reinforced cases. Each woman carried a smaller pack containing water, emergency supplies, personal equipment, and whatever additional items she considered essential. Ace's emergency coffee had survived inspection. Shammy had personally ensured that it was packed securely. Mai had declined to comment. Yukari wore practical outdoor clothing and carried a small pack that appeared almost suspiciously light. Seras had selected comfortable boots, dark trousers, and a simple jacket rather than her more conspicuous red coat. Ace examined her. "Huh." Seras raised an eyebrow. "What?" "You look almost ordinary." "Should I be offended?" "Probably." Seras grinned. "Good." Yukari approached and studied her. "Quite practical." "Thank you." "And considerably less likely to attract attention." Seras smiled. "That was the intention." Ace looked between them. "I feel underdressed." Mai sighed. "You're wearing a reinforced jacket, climbing trousers, and enough equipment to frighten a professional mountaineer." "Exactly. Understated." Shammy closed the final equipment case. "Ready?" Mai checked the inventory one last time. "Ready." Ace climbed into the vehicle. "Excellent. Let's go find Dracula's driveway." Seras closed her eyes. "God help me." Yukari smiled. "He has had centuries to prepare." The road out of town was pleasant enough. Fields gave way to low hills. The hills became wooded slopes. And the modern road gradually narrowed into something that seemed increasingly reluctant to admit it was intended for vehicles. Mai drove. Ace occupied the front passenger seat, where she had appointed herself chief navigator despite Mai having access to three independent mapping systems. Shammy sat behind them. Yukari and Seras occupied the remaining seats. The morning sunlight filtered through the trees. For a while, the journey was almost peaceful. Then Ace pointed ahead. "Left." Mai glanced at the navigation display. "Right." "Left." "Darling, the route is right." Ace checked her map. A pause. "Oh." Mai smiled. "Yes?" "Different junction." "Naturally." Shammy laughed softly. Seras leaned toward Yukari. "Does this happen often?" "Only when Ace is navigating." "YUKARI!" The kitsune smiled. "Beloved, I was defending you." "HOW?" "By limiting the accusation to navigation." Seras burst out laughing. Even Mai had to slow the vehicle slightly. Eventually, the paved road ended. A narrow gravel track continued toward a cluster of buildings surrounded by grazing land. Mai brought the vehicle to a stop near a small farm. "This is as far as the planned vehicle route goes." Ace looked ahead. The track continued between trees before disappearing around a bend. "Looks driveable." Mai examined the terrain display. "Not for much longer." "How much longer?" "Approximately four hundred meters." Ace considered. "Four hundred meters is four hundred meters." "And then we would need to turn around." "Details." Mai smiled. "I prefer not to discover that an all-terrain vehicle has become a permanent part of Romanian archaeology." Shammy laughed. "An excellent preference." They climbed out. The air was noticeably cooler than in town. A light breeze moved through the grass. Somewhere nearby, a dog barked. Yukari stretched and looked toward the hills. "Lovely." Seras stood beside her. For a moment, she seemed to be studying the landscape. Not the road. Not the farm. The hills themselves. Yukari noticed. "Recognize anything?" Seras considered. "Not yet." "That's all right." Seras nodded. Then she smiled faintly. "I know." The owner of the nearby farm approached while they were unloading their equipment. He was a broad-shouldered man in his fifties, wearing work clothes and carrying a small toolkit. His expression was curious rather than hostile. Mai greeted him in Romanian through her translation system and explained that they were investigating an old historical route. The man looked toward the hills. "Which route?" "The one that once led toward the prince's old walls." His expression changed. Not dramatically. But enough. "You want to go up there?" Mai nodded. "If we can identify the original path safely." He scratched his beard. "There's no proper road anymore." "We understand." "The bridge is gone." "We've seen photographs." He looked toward their equipment. "You're serious." Ace smiled. "Unfortunately." The man considered. Then pointed toward a line of trees. "Follow the old track until it reaches the stream. You'll find stones where the crossing used to be." "And beyond?" "Depends which path you take." He gestured toward the hillside. "One goes nowhere. The other climbs." Ace looked interested. "How do we tell them apart?" The farmer smiled. "The one that climbs is worse." Seras laughed. "Helpful." He shrugged. "True." Before leaving, the farmer offered one final warning. "People say strange things about those ruins." "We've heard some of the stories." "Then don't believe everything you hear." Ace blinked. "That's refreshing." The farmer looked amused. "My grandfather said the prince's ghost walked the old road." Seras raised an eyebrow. "Did he believe it?" "Of course." "And you?" The man shook his head. "My grandfather also believed thunder was caused by angels moving furniture." Shammy made a small sound. Ace looked at her immediately. "Don't." Shammy smiled. "I didn't say anything." "You were thinking something." "Perhaps." Yukari laughed quietly. The farmer continued. "But the ground up there is dangerous. That's real enough." "We'll take precautions." He examined their equipment again. "Good. And if you find anything important, tell the historical authorities. People have been taking pieces of those ruins for generations." "We will," Mai promised. The man nodded. Then returned to his work. Ace watched him go. "Nice fellow." Seras smiled. "And sensible." Ace looked toward the mountains. "Right. Let's go." They followed the old track on foot. At first, the walking was easy. The route passed through a meadow, then entered a stand of mature trees. The ground was firm. The path remained visible. Birdsong filled the forest. For nearly twenty minutes, the expedition resembled a pleasant hiking trip. Ace seemed delighted. "This is excellent." Mai glanced toward her. "What is?" "Everything." "Everything?" "Fresh air. Trees. No gunfire. No corporate security. No unidentified experimental technology." Shammy smiled. "And no one trying to kill us." "Exactly." Yukari looked toward Seras. "Quite civilized." "Almost suspiciously so." Ace pointed at her. "See? You're learning." The Vampire Queen laughed. Then looked toward the trees. For a moment, her smile became quieter. "This reminds me of something." Yukari turned toward her. "What?" "An old story." "About the castle?" Seras nodded. "Alucard once described approaching one of his old strongholds through a forest." Ace looked interested. "During a battle?" "Naturally." "Of course." Seras smiled faintly. "He complained that the trees had made troop movements difficult." Mai looked up. "Did he describe the approach?" "A little." "Anything useful?" Seras considered. "He said the road was narrow enough that a large force couldn't spread out properly." Mai nodded. "That would fit a defensive approach." "And that the ground became particularly unpleasant after rain." Ace looked at the dry track beneath her boots. "Let's be grateful for the weather." Shammy glanced toward the sky. "It should remain clear." Ace smiled. "Excellent." Then she looked at Shammy. "That's a forecast, right?" Shammy smiled sweetly. "Of course." Ace narrowed her eyes. "Love." "Yes?" "You're not secretly arranging the weather?" Shammy laughed. "No." A pause. "Not today." Ace sighed. "I knew there was a qualification coming." The first significant obstacle appeared shortly before ten. The old track ended at a stream. Or rather, it ended at what had once been a crossing. Several large stones remained embedded along the banks. Others lay partly submerged in the water. The stream itself was narrow but fast-moving. Beyond it, the opposite bank rose steeply into dense vegetation. Mai stopped. "That matches the photographs." Ace examined the stones. "Bridge?" "Formerly." "Not much left." "No." Shammy crouched near the water. She studied the exposed stonework without touching the loose upper blocks. "These are old foundations." Mai nodded. "Possibly associated with the crossing." Yukari looked downstream. "And the second stream?" Mai checked the terrain model. "Approximately a hundred meters east." Ace smiled. "Two waters meeting below the ridge." "Exactly." Seras stood quietly beside the ruined crossing. Her expression had changed. Yukari noticed immediately. "Seras?" The Vampire Queen looked toward the water. "He mentioned a crossing." Mai turned. "Alucard?" Seras nodded. "Yes." "Was it this one?" "I don't know." She looked toward the stones. "He said a bridge had once been built here. Or somewhere very much like here." Mai approached carefully. "Do you remember anything else?" Seras closed her eyes. For a moment, she seemed to be listening to something far away. Then she opened them again. "He said the crossing was narrow. That men complained about moving supplies through it." Ace examined the remains. "Sounds about right." Seras smiled faintly. "He also said anyone complaining about the road should try building one while being shot at." Ace laughed. "Okay. That sounds like him." Seras chuckled. Then the smile faded. "He had a particular way of saying things." Yukari gently touched her arm. Seras looked toward her. The kitsune smiled. "Take your time." Seras nodded. "Thank you." Crossing the stream proved straightforward enough. The old bridge was unusable, but Mai identified a shallower section upstream. Ace crossed first, testing the footing and securing a line between two stable points. Mai followed. Shammy helped guide the equipment. Yukari crossed with the easy balance of someone who regarded slippery stones as a minor inconvenience. Seras stepped across without difficulty. Ace watched her. "Show-off." Seras raised an eyebrow. "Excuse me?" "Some of us have to worry about gravity." Seras smiled. "How unfortunate." Yukari laughed. "Gravity is terribly inconsiderate." Shammy nodded. "Frequently." Mai looked toward Ace. "Darling, you're the one who insisted on making this a hiking expedition." "Yes, but I was expecting everyone to suffer equally." Seras grinned. "Life is unfair." Ace sighed. "Apparently." On the opposite bank, the old route became considerably harder to follow. Vegetation had reclaimed most of the track. Tree roots crossed the remaining sections. Loose stones covered the ground. Mai compared the terrain against the historical photographs. "The path should continue northwest." Ace examined the hillside. "I see two possibilities." Yukari nodded. "So do I." One route followed a shallow depression through the trees. The other climbed more steeply beside a line of exposed rock. Mai studied both. "The lower path corresponds to the modern survey." Ace looked toward the steeper route. "And the upper one?" "Possibly the original ascent." Shammy examined the ground. "The upper route has older stonework." Mai looked interested. "Where?" Shammy pointed toward several blocks partly hidden beneath moss. Ace approached. The stones formed an irregular line. Not a wall. More likely remnants of an old retaining structure. Mai crouched and examined them. "That's interesting." Ace smiled. "I know that tone." Mai ignored her. "The arrangement suggests the slope may once have been stabilized." Shammy nodded. "That would make sense." Yukari looked toward the upper path. "Then perhaps the road was there." Seras had been studying the stones. Now she spoke. "Yes." Everyone turned. She looked up the slope. "I think so." Mai approached. "Do you recognize it?" Seras shook her head. "Not directly." Then she looked toward the old retaining stones. "But he described a road climbing alongside a stone boundary." "That's good enough to investigate." Mai nodded. "Carefully." "Naturally." The climb began gently. Then became considerably less gentle. The old path was barely visible. In some places, only the surviving retaining stones distinguished it from the surrounding hillside. Ace moved ahead, examining the route. Mai followed with the structural equipment. Shammy remained near the middle of the group. Yukari walked beside Seras. The forest gradually became quieter. Not unnaturally. The trees grew denser, and the sounds of the road and nearby settlement had faded behind them. Seras looked toward the slope. "This feels familiar." Yukari glanced at her. "Good familiar?" Seras considered. "I don't know." The kitsune nodded. "Fair enough." They continued. After several minutes, Seras stopped. Yukari stopped with her. "What is it?" Seras looked toward a large outcrop of stone. Part of it had collapsed. Another section remained exposed beneath the vegetation. She stared at it. "That." Yukari followed her gaze. "The rock?" Seras nodded. "He talked about a rock formation near the approach." Mai heard them and returned. "Something specific?" Seras studied the outcrop. "He said it looked like a broken crown." Ace, farther up the slope, turned. "A broken crown?" "Yes." Mai examined the formation. The upper section had fractured into several uneven projections. From the right angle, the resemblance was faint but recognizable. Yukari smiled. "I can see it." Seras nodded slowly. "He called it the crown of a king who had forgotten how to bow." Ace grinned. "That sounds extremely Alucard." Seras laughed softly. "Yes." Then she became quiet. For a long moment, she simply looked at the stone. Yukari moved beside her. "Seras?" The Vampire Queen shook her head. "I'm all right." Yukari didn't challenge the answer. She simply remained there. After another moment, Seras looked toward the path. "Let's continue." By noon, the ascent had become genuinely difficult. The old route crossed a section of loose scree. Several trees had fallen across the slope. A narrow section of the former retaining wall had collapsed completely, leaving a dangerous drop toward the stream valley below. Mai stopped the group. "Nobody moves until we assess this." Ace looked ahead. "Agreed." She crouched and examined the ground. The upper portion appeared stable enough. The lower edge did not. Mai brought out the portable structural scanner. Shammy studied the slope. Yukari remained beside Seras. For several minutes, the group worked quietly. Finally, Mai looked up. "The old path is unsafe." Ace nodded. "I agree." "There's a possible route above it." Ace examined the rocks. "Steeper." "But more stable." Shammy looked toward the exposed stone. "I can help with the equipment." Mai nodded. "Good." Ace smiled. "Finally. Actual climbing." Seras looked amused. "You sound delighted." "I am." "Why?" "Because this is the first part of the trip that doesn't involve reading six centuries of contradictory handwriting." Mai looked offended. "Historical research is important." "Yes, darling." "Extremely important." "Of course." Shammy laughed. Ace smiled at her. "But sometimes I prefer rocks." --- The detour took nearly forty minutes. Ace established the route. Mai checked the stable sections. Shammy helped move equipment through the more difficult passages. Yukari guided Seras across the exposed rock without either of them needing assistance. At one point, Ace looked back. Seras had crossed a section that had required Ace several minutes of careful work. The Vampire Queen appeared entirely untroubled. Ace stared. "Seriously?" Seras smiled. "What?" "You could at least pretend that was difficult." "Would that make you feel better?" "Considerably." Seras looked toward the rock beneath her feet. Then gave an exaggerated sigh. "Oh, dear. Such a challenging mountain." Yukari began laughing. Ace pointed at her. "THAT'S WORSE!" Mai laughed so hard she had to stop walking. Even Shammy needed a moment. The mountain remained entirely unimpressed. --- They stopped for lunch on a small shelf overlooking the valley. The view was spectacular. The stream lay far below. Forested ridges stretched toward the horizon. Cloud shadows moved slowly across the slopes. Ace sat on a flat rock and opened her food pack. "Okay." Mai looked toward her. "What?" "This was worth the climb." Shammy smiled. "Beautiful, isn't it?" "Very." Yukari settled beside Seras. For a while, the five women ate in comfortable silence. Then Ace looked toward the opposite ridge. "Do you think this place looked much different six hundred years ago?" Mai considered. "The broad terrain would have been similar. Vegetation, roads and settlements would have changed considerably." Shammy nodded. "Forests change even when nobody interferes." Yukari smiled. "Everything changes." Seras looked toward the valley. "Yes." The single word carried more weight than the others had intended. Ace glanced toward her. Seras continued. "He used to talk about the mountains." Mai looked interested. "Alucard?" "Yes." "What did he say?" Seras smiled faintly. "Mostly complained about them." Ace laughed. "Of course." "He said mountains made military campaigns unnecessarily complicated." Yukari chuckled. "A sensible observation." "And that whoever designed the terrain had clearly never attempted to move an army through it." Shammy laughed. "I might take offense at that." Seras turned toward her. Then began laughing. "Oh, God." Ace pointed at Shammy. "Love, don't start redesigning Romania." Shammy smiled. "I wasn't planning to." "Good." "Although the drainage could be improved." Mai covered her face. Yukari laughed. Seras joined them. For several minutes, the hillside echoed with laughter. Later, while the others packed away their lunch, Seras remained seated near the edge of the rock shelf. Yukari approached. "May I?" Seras nodded. "Of course." The kitsune sat beside her. For a while, they watched the valley. Then Seras spoke. "He never sounded sentimental when he talked about this place." Yukari listened. "He'd describe battles. Weather. Bad roads. Terrible decisions made by kings who should have known better." A faint smile. "But sometimes he'd mention something beautiful." "Such as?" "Morning light on the mountains." Yukari looked toward the distant ridges. "That is beautiful." "Yes." Seras paused. "He said there was a particular morning when the whole valley turned gold." Yukari smiled. "Sounds lovely." "He'd been preparing for a battle." "Of course." Seras laughed softly. "He said it was a shame men had to ruin such a fine morning by killing one another." Yukari considered. "An unusual observation from someone with his reputation." "Yes." Seras looked down at her hands. "That's what makes remembering him so difficult." Yukari waited. "He could say something like that, and for a moment you'd almost forget everything else." The kitsune nodded. "Yes." "Then he'd remind you." Seras's voice became quieter. "Very quickly." Yukari gently rested a hand against hers. "You're allowed to remember both." Seras looked at her. "Both?" "The beauty and the cruelty." A pause. "Remembering one doesn't excuse the other." For a long moment, Seras said nothing. Then she smiled faintly. "You're annoyingly wise." Yukari returned the smile. "Occasionally." Seras looked toward the valley again. "Do you ever get tired of remembering?" Yukari considered. "Sometimes." "What do you do?" "Make new memories." Seras turned toward her. The kitsune smiled. "Like today." For a moment, Seras looked surprised. Then she laughed softly. "Yes." She squeezed Yukari's hand. "Like today." --- They resumed the climb shortly after one. The old route had become increasingly fragmented. In several places, it disappeared beneath fallen trees or accumulated soil. Mai used the terrain surveys to maintain their general direction. Ace scouted the accessible passages. Shammy helped identify sections where the ground appeared less stable. Yukari and Seras followed, occasionally offering observations drawn from their own considerable experience of old landscapes. The group made steady progress. Then Ace stopped. "Hold up." Mai looked toward her. "What?" Ace pointed ahead. Beyond a stand of trees, the hillside rose toward a narrow ridge. Something dark interrupted the vegetation. Not rock. Not quite. A straight line. Mai stepped closer. She examined the shape through the magnification on her tablet. Then smiled. "Well." Shammy looked interested. "What?" Mai enlarged the image. Several large stones. Roughly aligned. Partially concealed beneath roots and moss. And beyond them, another section. Higher. More regular. Ace grinned. "Wall?" Mai nodded slowly. "Possibly." Seras stepped forward. She looked toward the ridge. For several seconds, she didn't speak. Yukari watched her. Then Seras whispered: "Oh." Ace turned. "Seras?" The Vampire Queen stared toward the stones. Her expression had changed completely. Not fear. Not surprise. Recognition. And something much more painful. "Seras?" Yukari repeated gently. The Vampire Queen swallowed. "He described that." Mai looked toward the ridge. "The wall?" Seras nodded. "The approach." She pointed toward the rising terrain. "The road climbed here. Then turned beneath the outer wall." Ace examined the slope. "That's exactly what we're seeing." Seras's voice became quieter. "He said the approach was deliberately narrow." Mai nodded. "Defensive design." "Yes." Seras looked toward the stones. "He said anyone coming up this way would be visible long before they reached the gate." Yukari moved beside her. Seras continued. "And that an attacking force would have very little room to maneuver." Ace looked toward the ridge. "That makes sense." Mai compared the old reconstruction with the terrain. Then smiled. "We may have found it." They continued carefully. The vegetation thinned near the ridge. The ground became rockier. And the old stonework emerged more clearly. Not a magnificent fortress. Not the towering Gothic fantasy of the tourist illustrations. Only broken masonry. A collapsed retaining wall. The remains of a narrow approach. And beyond it, partially hidden by trees, the unmistakable outline of a ruined fortification. Ace stopped. For once, she had nothing immediately ridiculous to say. Mai stood beside her. Shammy approached quietly. Yukari remained near Seras. The five women looked toward the ruins. They had found the castle. Or at least a structure consistent with the site they had been seeking. The distinction mattered to Mai. But at that moment, it mattered very little to Seras. She stood motionless. Her eyes moved across the broken walls. The collapsed sections. The remains of what might once have been a gatehouse. A narrow passage between two surviving stone foundations. For a long moment, she seemed unable to speak. Then she whispered: "He told me about this." Yukari looked toward her. Seras pointed toward the old entrance. "That wall." Her voice trembled slightly. "He said it was rebuilt twice." Mai studied the masonry. "That may be possible." Seras barely heard her. "He complained about the cost." A faint laugh escaped her. "He said repairing walls was almost as irritating as rebuilding an army." Ace smiled softly. "Sounds like him." Seras nodded. Then she looked toward the broken entrance again. The smile disappeared. For a moment, she seemed to be looking through the centuries rather than across the hillside. Yukari stepped closer. "Seras." The Vampire Queen closed her eyes. "I'm all right." Yukari didn't contradict her. Instead, she gently took her hand. Seras looked down. Then toward the kitsune. Her expression softened. "I didn't think..." She stopped. Yukari waited. Seras looked toward the ruins. "I didn't think it would feel like this." Yukari squeezed her hand. "Would you like to stop?" Seras considered. For a long moment, she said nothing. Then she shook her head. "No." "Are you sure?" "Yes." She looked toward the old walls. "I want to see it." Yukari nodded. "Then we'll see it." Mai approached them. "We should assess the site before entering." Seras nodded. "Of course." "The surviving walls may be unstable." "I understand." Ace looked toward the ruined gate. "There's enough daylight left for a preliminary survey." Mai agreed. "But no entering the interior until we've established a safe route." Shammy examined the ground. "And no unnecessary climbing on unsupported stonework." Ace looked offended. "Why are you looking at me?" Shammy smiled. "Experience." Yukari laughed. Seras looked toward Ace. "Perhaps you should have brought a different pair of boots." Ace stared at her. Then began laughing. "Oh, fuck you." Seras grinned. "Your Majesty, if you please." Mai shook her head. Shammy laughed. Yukari smiled. And for a brief moment, the familiar warmth returned. The group established a temporary survey position on stable ground beyond the old approach. Mai began recording the visible structures. Ace examined the outer terrain. Shammy checked for obvious signs of recent collapses. Yukari remained with Seras near a large stone overlooking the ruins. The Vampire Queen stood quietly. The afternoon sun had begun moving toward the western horizon. Long shadows stretched across the broken walls. For the first time, Seras could see the place without relying on photographs, maps or someone else's reconstruction. It was smaller than she had imagined. That surprised her. Alucard had always made everything sound enormous. His battles. His enemies. His victories. His grudges. Even his complaints about architecture. Yet here was the reality. Broken stone. Trees growing through old foundations. A few surviving walls. And silence. Seras looked toward the remains of the entrance. "He made it sound much grander." Yukari smiled faintly. "People often do." Seras laughed. "Especially him." She took a slow breath. Then looked toward the mountain beyond the ruins. For a moment, she remembered a conversation. Alucard had been seated in his familiar chair, looking entirely too pleased with himself. She had asked him why anyone would build a castle in such an inconvenient location. He had laughed. *Because, police girl, an inconvenient place to reach is also an inconvenient place to attack.* She had accused him of making military strategy sound like an excuse for terrible property planning. He had laughed harder. The memory returned with extraordinary clarity. His voice. His expression. The particular way he had tilted his head when amused. Then it faded. Seras lowered her eyes. Yukari noticed. "Another memory?" Seras nodded. "Yes." "Would you like to tell me?" The Vampire Queen considered. Then smiled faintly. "He was being an arrogant bastard." Yukari laughed. "That does narrow things down considerably." Seras chuckled. Then her expression softened. "I miss that." Yukari rested a hand against her shoulder. "I know." They stood quietly together. The ruins remained exactly what they were. Old. Broken. Entirely indifferent to the woman who remembered the man associated with them. And somehow, that made the experience harder. As the afternoon light began to fade, Mai finished the preliminary survey. She returned to the others. "All right." Ace looked up. "Good news?" "We have a plausible match." "Excellent." "The outer structures are consistent with the historical descriptions, and the approach matches several independent accounts." Ace grinned. "So Dracula's castle." Mai sighed. "Almost certainly the site we're investigating." "Dracula's castle." "Darling." Shammy laughed. Seras looked toward the ruins. Then smiled faintly. "Let her have this one." Mai turned. "Seras?" The Vampire Queen looked at her. "He's not here to complain." The words were spoken lightly. Almost playfully. But something in them made the others fall quiet. Yukari gently squeezed Seras's hand. The Vampire Queen looked toward her. Then smiled. "I'm all right." Yukari returned the smile. "I know." This time, neither woman needed to say anything more. They did not enter the castle that afternoon. Mai insisted on a proper structural assessment first. Ace agreed, though she complained about the delay. Shammy approved. Yukari considered it sensible. Seras didn't object. Instead, the five women spent the remaining daylight documenting the approach, identifying stable ground and establishing a safe location from which to begin the following day's exploration. Eventually, they prepared to return to their accommodation. Ace looked toward the ruins one last time. "Well." Mai smiled. "Yes?" "We found it." "We found a very promising site." Ace grinned. "You're impossible." "Precise." "Same thing." Shammy wrapped an arm around Ace. "Shall we celebrate with dinner?" Ace immediately brightened. "Now you're talking." Yukari smiled. "And tea." "Of course." Seras looked toward the old walls. For a moment, she remained still. Then she turned toward her friends. "Yes." Her voice was quiet. "Dinner sounds lovely." --- As they began the descent, Seras looked back once more. The ruined castle stood beneath the darkening sky. A place of broken walls and forgotten rooms. A place connected to a man whose life had become legend. And somewhere beneath those stones, perhaps, lay the object they had travelled halfway around the world to find. But for Seras, the goblet was no longer the most important thing. Not at that moment. She had come here believing she was prepared to confront a historical location. Instead, she had found herself standing at the edge of memories she had spent years keeping carefully contained. Beside her, Yukari waited. Not urging her forward. Not asking her to be stronger. Simply waiting. Seras looked toward her. "Yukari?" "Yes?" "Thank you." The kitsune smiled. "For what?" Seras glanced toward the ruins. "For coming." Yukari gently took her hand. "Of course." Then she smiled with a little more mischief. "Besides, someone has to make sure you don't argue with the architecture." Seras stared at her. Then burst out laughing. "Goddammit." Yukari laughed too. The sound carried softly through the trees. And together, they followed their friends down the old road. Far above the valley, the ruined castle remained quiet. No ancient guardian stirred. No supernatural presence watched their departure. No hidden curse awakened beneath the stones. The place had endured centuries of weather, neglect and the slow destruction of time. Its walls were fractured. Its passages were buried. Its foundations were uncertain. And beneath it all, somewhere beyond the reach of ordinary daylight, an old burial chamber might still exist. The five women had found the road. Tomorrow, they would enter the castle. And Seras Victoria would discover whether the memories waiting inside were anything like the ones she had carried with her for so long. --- ## Chapter 6 — The Castle of the Impaler The second visit to the castle began considerably earlier than Ace considered reasonable. She stood beside the vehicle, holding a cup of coffee and staring at the mountains. "Explain something to me." Mai looked up from the equipment inventory. "What?" "We found the castle yesterday." "Yes." "We know where it is." "Yes." "And it's not going anywhere." "Presumably." Ace took another sip. "Then why the fuck are we leaving before sunrise?" Shammy smiled. "Because we have a difficult climb, love." "And we want as much daylight as possible," Mai added. "Daylight is overrated." Seras, leaning against the vehicle, raised an eyebrow. "Careful. I may agree with you." Ace pointed toward her. "See? The vampire understands." Yukari emerged from the accommodation carrying her small pack. "An excellent argument, except that some of us prefer not to navigate collapsing medieval architecture in the dark." Ace considered. "All right. That's irritatingly sensible." Mai smiled. "Ready?" Ace looked at the mountains. Then at her coffee. Then at the mountains again. "Ask me after breakfast." Shammy laughed. "You've already eaten." "Second breakfast." Yukari nodded approvingly. "A fine tradition." Mai closed the equipment case. "Get in the car." Ace sighed. "Nobody appreciates the importance of proper expedition nutrition." Seras grinned. "Except you." "Especially me." They reached the abandoned crossing without incident. The previous day's reconnaissance had made the approach considerably easier. Mai had recorded the safest sections of the route, and Ace had marked several places where the original track had become unstable. The equipment was divided between them. No single person carried an unreasonable load. Even Seras. Especially Seras, who had attempted to solve the entire problem by offering to carry nearly everything herself. Mai had refused. "Why?" Seras asked. "Because we need the equipment distributed." "I can carry it." "I know." "All of it." "I know." Seras folded her arms. "You're being very stubborn." Ace looked toward her. "Welcome to my life." Mai smiled sweetly. "You're both welcome." Shammy laughed. Yukari adjusted the strap of her pack. "Besides, Seras, carrying everything would deprive Ace of an opportunity to complain." Seras considered. "An important cultural tradition?" "Essential." Ace pointed at them. "ONE MORE WORD." The laughter followed them into the forest. The climb took less time than it had the previous day. They knew where to cross the stream. They knew which of the two abandoned paths led upward. And they had already identified the detour around the collapsed retaining wall. Ace took the lead. Mai followed, periodically checking the route against their recorded survey. Shammy carried the delicate instruments. Yukari and Seras walked together. For much of the journey, Seras seemed more relaxed than she had the previous afternoon. She asked questions about the equipment. She listened to Ace explain how a particular climbing anchor worked. And she spent several highly entertaining minutes arguing with Yukari about whether an ancient kitsune should be required to wear a safety harness. "Absolutely," Mai said when the question reached her. Yukari looked offended. "I have survived considerably worse things than a hillside." "That doesn't make you immune to falling rocks." "I can move very quickly." "Rocks can fall very quickly." Yukari considered. Seras smiled. "She's got you there." The kitsune sighed. "Very well." Ace grinned. "HA!" Yukari looked toward her. "Enjoy your victory, beloved." "I intend to." "While it lasts." Ace stopped smiling. "Why does that sound like a threat?" Yukari's expression was perfectly innocent. "I have no idea." Shammy laughed so hard she nearly dropped her water bottle. --- The ruined gatehouse came into view shortly after nine. In the clear morning light, the castle appeared less mysterious than it had the previous evening. And considerably more damaged. What had looked like a continuous section of wall from below was actually a collection of separated fragments. One tower had collapsed almost completely. Another survived as an irregular stump of masonry. The outer defensive wall remained visible in several places, though entire sections had disappeared beneath vegetation and fallen stone. A few narrow openings suggested former rooms. Others were simply gaps left by centuries of deterioration. Ace stopped beside the old approach. "Well." Mai looked toward her. "What?" "It's definitely less impressive in daylight." Seras smiled faintly. "Alucard would be furious." Ace glanced at her. "About the condition?" "About your review." Shammy laughed. Yukari examined the ruins. "I imagine the original builders would be rather disappointed too." Mai activated the surveying equipment. "The foundations are substantial. That much is clear." Ace looked toward the surviving entrance. "So where do we start?" "With the outer perimeter." "Of course." "And then the accessible interior." "Naturally." "And nobody goes anywhere without telling the others." Ace sighed. "You're making archaeology sound suspiciously organized." Mai smiled. "That's the intention." The first hour was devoted to the castle's exterior. Mai mapped the surviving walls. Ace investigated the safe approaches to the ruined gatehouse. Shammy recorded areas where vegetation had penetrated the masonry. Yukari examined the terrain beyond the walls. Seras moved between them, occasionally offering details she remembered from Alucard's descriptions. None of those memories was treated as conclusive evidence. Mai insisted on comparing every observation against the physical structure. Seras seemed to appreciate that. "You're remarkably careful," she observed. Mai looked up. "I try to be." "Most people would simply assume I know everything about the place." "Do you?" Seras laughed. "Absolutely not." "Then why would we?" A small smile crossed the Vampire Queen's face. "An excellent question." Mai returned her attention to the survey. Seras watched her for another moment. Then said quietly: "He would have liked you." Mai looked surprised. "Alucard?" "Yes." "Why?" Seras smiled. "Because you don't accept an answer merely because someone important gives it." Ace looked over. "That's certainly true." Mai raised an eyebrow. "Something to add, darling?" "Only several years of supporting evidence." Shammy laughed. Seras grinned. "Then perhaps he would have liked all three of you." Ace considered. "Would he have tried to kill us?" Seras thought for a moment. "Possibly." Ace nodded. "Sounds like a promising friendship." --- The gatehouse required particular attention. Its surviving eastern wall leaned outward. A large section of the upper masonry had collapsed long ago, leaving an uneven mound of stone across the original entrance. The western side was in better condition, though the floor immediately beyond it had partially disappeared. Mai examined the scanner readings. "No walking directly through the center." Ace nodded. "Loose fill?" "Yes. And there's a void beneath part of it." Shammy crouched near the surviving threshold. "Water erosion?" "Possibly. The foundations have been exposed for a very long time." Yukari looked toward the damaged opening. "Can we go around?" Ace pointed. "Over there." A narrow section of the original wall had fallen outward, creating a gap between the collapsed masonry and the hillside. Mai checked it. "That may work." Seras studied the old entrance. For several moments, she was silent. Then she laughed softly. Ace looked toward her. "What?" "He used to complain about the gate." "Really?" Seras nodded. "Apparently, it was never wide enough for the people who wanted to use it." Yukari smiled. "An inconvenience for a military commander." "Yes." Seras looked at the collapsed stones. "He said every time someone proposed rebuilding it, the proposed changes were more expensive than the original structure." Ace grinned. "Some things never change." Mai nodded. "Construction budgets certainly don't." Seras laughed. Then looked toward the ruined gate again. Her expression softened. "He talked about that gate as though it had personally offended him." "Perhaps it had." Seras chuckled. "Knowing him, probably." They entered the outer courtyard shortly before eleven. Or rather, what remained of it. The original open space was now occupied by fallen stone, exposed earth, bushes and several small trees. The outlines of former buildings were visible in places. A row of foundation stones suggested rooms along the southern wall. Another section might once have supported a covered passage. Mai slowly rotated her scanner. "Interesting." Ace groaned. "That's the fifth time you've said that." "Because it is." "Everything here is interesting to you." "Yes." Ace considered. "Fair enough." Shammy moved carefully along the edge of the courtyard. "There's evidence of several building phases." Mai nodded. "Different masonry techniques." Seras looked toward the foundations. "That doesn't surprise me." "Do you know when the changes were made?" "Not precisely." She looked around. "Alucard complained about rebuilding things more often than I expected." Yukari smiled. "He seems to have complained about quite a lot." Seras laughed. "Oh, constantly." Ace grinned. "Now that sounds like a man after my own heart." Mai turned toward her. "You complain about everything." "Exactly." Shammy smiled. "The resemblance is uncanny." Ace looked at her. "Love." "Yes?" "You're supposed to be on my side." "I am." "You're laughing." "Affectionately." Seras shook her head with amusement. For several minutes, the ruined courtyard was filled with something it probably hadn't heard in a very long time. Laughter. The first real problem appeared near the remains of a southern building. Ace had been examining what appeared to be an old doorway. The entrance was partially blocked, but enough space remained to see inside. A short passage extended beyond it. Mai approached with the scanner. "Hold on." Ace stopped immediately. "What?" "The floor." Ace looked down. It appeared solid. Uneven stone, covered by dirt and debris. Nothing particularly unusual. Mai enlarged the subsurface reading. "There's a cavity beneath that section." Ace stepped backward. "How large?" "Uncertain." Shammy approached. "Can we determine the depth?" Mai adjusted the instrument. The display resolved gradually. A hollow space extended beneath part of the former passage. Its dimensions were irregular. One edge appeared to have collapsed. Ace studied the reading. "Old cellar?" "Possibly." Seras looked toward the doorway. "Or a storage room." Mai nodded. "Could be." Ace examined the narrow opening. "Either way, that's not safe." "No." Mai marked the section as prohibited. Then she noticed something else. "Wait." Ace looked toward her. "What?" "The void continues beneath part of the courtyard." Shammy crouched beside her. "How far?" Mai rotated the scan. "At least several meters." Yukari looked toward the old foundations. "That suggests there may have been more beneath the building." Seras studied the doorway. For a moment, her expression became thoughtful. Then she shook her head. "I don't recognize it." "That's fine." Ace looked toward the scanner. "So we've found an underground space." "Yes." "Which may or may not lead anywhere." "Correct." Ace grinned. "Excellent." Mai gave her a warning look. "We are not going down there." "I know." "Not today." "I KNOW." Shammy smiled. "She does know, darling." Mai looked at her. "Are you certain?" Shammy glanced toward Ace. Then laughed. "Reasonably." --- They continued along the southern side of the courtyard. The surviving buildings were in poor condition. One had collapsed completely. Another retained two walls and part of its original doorway. Vegetation had spread through almost every exposed joint. A section of old staircase led upward. Only the first few steps remained intact. Ace examined it. "Well, that's disappointing." Mai looked over. "What's wrong?" "I was hoping for a view from the top." "There's no top." "That's the problem." Seras smiled. "He'd have complained about that too." Ace turned. "Are you saying Dracula and I have similar personalities?" Seras considered. "Somewhat." Mai laughed. Shammy looked delighted. Yukari raised an eyebrow. "Should we be concerned?" Ace folded her arms. "I am surrounded by people who refuse to appreciate my finer qualities." Seras grinned. "Alucard said something very similar once." Ace stared. Then began laughing. "Oh, fuck." Even Mai had to stop working for a moment. The laughter ended when Shammy called from the far side of the ruined building. "Mai?" Something in her voice brought immediate attention. Not fear. Professional caution. Mai approached. "What is it?" Shammy pointed toward the base of a wall. Several large stones had shifted outward. A narrow fracture ran upward through the masonry. The ground beneath them had begun to sink. Mai examined the scanner. Her expression tightened. "That wall is moving." Ace joined them. "Right now?" "Very slowly. But the lower support is compromised." Seras looked toward the structure. "Would you like me to stabilize it?" Mai considered. "Not by pushing against it." Seras raised an eyebrow. "Why not?" "Because we don't know how the load is distributed." She indicated the fracture. "If you apply force in the wrong direction, you could bring down the entire section." Seras studied the wall. Then nodded. "Fair point." Ace looked toward her. "See? Sometimes supernatural strength is less useful than engineering." Seras smiled. "That sounds suspiciously like something Alucard would have argued about." Mai continued assessing the wall. "Everyone back." They moved away. A few seconds later, a small stone slipped from the upper masonry. It struck the ground. Then another. A faint grinding sound followed. Ace's expression changed immediately. "Further back." Mai nodded. The group retreated toward the center of the courtyard. For several moments, the wall remained motionless. Then a section near its base shifted. Several stones fell outward. Dust rose into the sunlight. The collapse was small. But unmistakable. When the sound ended, the five women stood quietly. Ace looked toward the damaged structure. "Well." Mai checked the readings. "That's why we're being careful." Shammy nodded. "Yes." Seras studied the fallen stones. Then looked toward Mai. "I withdraw any objections to your procedures." Mai smiled faintly. "Accepted." Yukari examined the dust settling over the courtyard. "Time is an extraordinarily patient destroyer." Nobody disagreed. They stopped for lunch in a sheltered section of the outer courtyard, well away from the unstable buildings. Ace opened her food pack. Then looked toward the fallen stones. "You know something?" Mai glanced at her. "What?" "I'm beginning to respect this castle." Seras raised an eyebrow. "Only beginning?" "Well, yesterday it was just a pile of rocks." "And today?" "A pile of rocks with opinions." Shammy laughed. Yukari smiled. "Strong opinions, apparently." Mai took a drink of water. "The masonry is in worse condition than the outer survey suggested." Ace nodded. "Yeah." "We'll need to be very selective about which areas we enter." "Agreed." Seras looked toward the ruins. "It must have been magnificent once." Mai studied her. "Do you think so?" Seras considered. "I don't know." The answer surprised Ace. Seras continued. "He always described things in a way that made them sound grander than they probably were." "A talent for storytelling." "An infuriating talent." Seras looked around the courtyard. "He would talk about banners, soldiers, horses, courtyards filled with people." A faint smile crossed her face. "And then he'd complain about the food." Ace laughed. "Now that's relatable." Seras nodded. "He said the cooks were worse than the enemy." Shammy smiled. "Poor cooks." "Poor soldiers, more likely." They laughed. Then Seras became quieter. She looked toward the surviving foundations. "I suppose I always imagined something larger." Mai followed her gaze. "Historical buildings often feel different when you see their remains." "Yes." Seras took her time before continuing. "He made it sound as though the place belonged to him forever." Yukari looked toward her. "And now?" Seras studied the broken stones. "Now it belongs to the trees." After lunch, Mai proposed investigating the northern section of the castle. The old reconstruction suggested that the main residential buildings had once stood there. The surviving foundations were more substantial. Several walls remained standing. And the ground appeared comparatively stable. Ace studied the route. "That looks manageable." Mai nodded. "Provided we avoid the eastern edge." Shammy examined the area. "There's a significant drop beyond it." Yukari looked toward the northern wall. "Then we stay west." Seras nodded. "Simple enough." They moved carefully. The northern section was quieter. The wind passed through gaps in the masonry, producing occasional low whistles. Nothing supernatural. Just air moving through broken stone. Ace stopped beside one opening. "Well, that's creepy." Seras grinned. "Afraid?" "Of wind? No." "Then what?" "Of discovering this place has developed a taste for dramatic sound effects." Yukari laughed. Mai examined the opening. "The acoustics are perfectly ordinary." Ace looked at her. "Darling, you're ruining the atmosphere." "You're welcome." The remains of the northern building were more impressive than anything they had seen so far. A long wall survived almost to its original height. Several narrow openings suggested former windows. Part of an interior chamber remained accessible through a collapsed archway. Mai surveyed the area. Ace inspected the approach. Shammy checked the ground. Yukari stood beside Seras, watching her expression. The Vampire Queen had become very still. Not frightened. Not overwhelmed. Simply attentive. She looked toward the surviving wall. Then toward the narrow openings. For a long moment, she said nothing. Finally, she whispered: "Oh." Yukari turned. "What is it?" Seras pointed toward the wall. "Those windows." Mai approached. "Do you recognize them?" Seras nodded slowly. "He described them." Ace looked interested. "Really?" "Yes." Seras studied the openings. "He said they were too narrow." Mai nodded. "Defensive construction." "Yes." A small laugh escaped Seras. "He complained that they made the rooms gloomy." Ace looked around. "Can't argue with that." Seras smiled. "He said if he ever rebuilt the place, he'd make the windows larger." Yukari chuckled. "That would rather defeat the defensive purpose." "Exactly what I told him." Seras stopped. The words seemed to surprise her. Not because they were false. Because she had spoken them so naturally. As though the conversation had happened yesterday. For a moment, she looked toward the wall. Then away. Yukari moved closer. "Seras?" The Vampire Queen shook her head. "I'm remembering more than I expected." Yukari nodded. "Would you like to sit?" Seras considered. "Not yet." "All right." She looked toward the chamber. "I'd like to see inside." Mai examined the readings. "The western side appears stable enough for a limited inspection." Ace nodded. "I'll go first." Seras looked toward her. "You don't have to." Ace smiled. "I know." Then she checked her equipment. "But I'm very good at this." The interior chamber was surprisingly small. At least, what remained of it. The roof had disappeared centuries ago. The floor was uneven. One wall had collapsed inward, leaving a mound of stone and soil. The surviving section contained several architectural details that were difficult to distinguish from later repairs. Ace entered carefully. She tested the ground. Checked the immediate surroundings. Then signaled to the others. "Clear enough." Mai followed. Shammy came next. Yukari and Seras entered together. For a moment, the five women stood in silence. Sunlight fell through the open roof. Small plants grew between the stones. A bird landed briefly on the surviving wall before taking flight again. Nothing moved beneath their feet. Nothing stirred in the shadows. It was simply an old room. A very old room. Seras looked around. Her expression became strangely gentle. "He told me about this." Mai turned toward her. "This room?" "Possibly." Seras looked toward the remaining windows. "He said there was a chamber overlooking the valley." Ace glanced outside. "That fits." "He said it was always cold." Shammy smiled. "It probably was." Seras approached the western wall. She stopped a safe distance from it. Then looked toward the opening. "He said he used to stand here and watch the road." Yukari remained nearby. Seras smiled faintly. "He complained about the weather." Ace laughed softly. "Naturally." "And the soldiers." "Naturally." "And the horses." "Poor horses." Seras chuckled. "Especially the horses." Then her smile faded. She looked toward the empty opening. For a moment, the room seemed terribly small. Not because of its dimensions. Because of everything that was missing. The roof. The furniture. The people. The man whose voice had once made the place seem alive. Seras lowered her eyes. Yukari waited. After a while, Seras spoke. "I used to imagine him standing here." The kitsune nodded. "Yes." "I thought..." She stopped. Then shook her head. "Never mind." Yukari didn't press. Instead, she stood beside her. Looking through the same empty opening. At the same distant hills. And after a while, Seras said quietly: "It's beautiful." Yukari smiled. "Yes." Seras looked toward the valley. "He was right about that much." Mai's scanner interrupted the moment. A short warning tone sounded. She looked down. Then frowned. Ace turned immediately. "What?" "There's another void beneath us." Everyone became still. Mai examined the reading. "Not directly beneath this section. Farther east." Ace moved toward her. "How large?" "Uncertain." Shammy looked toward the collapsed wall. "Could it be related to the earlier cavity?" Mai considered. "Possibly." She brought up the previous survey. Two irregular underground spaces appeared on the display. One beneath the southern building. Another extending beneath the northern section. Mai compared their depths. "Interesting." Ace looked at her. "That's number six." Mai smiled. "This one deserves it." Seras approached. "What have you found?" Mai enlarged the subsurface model. "The cavities may be part of a larger underground structure." Yukari studied the display. "Connected?" "Perhaps." Ace leaned closer. "An old cellar system?" "Possible." "Storage chambers?" "Also possible." Seras examined the depths. Then looked toward the courtyard. "Could there be passages between the buildings?" Mai nodded. "That's what we're trying to establish." Shammy looked thoughtful. "If there are, some may have collapsed." "Almost certainly." Ace grinned. "So there's something under the castle." Mai raised an eyebrow. "We already knew that was a possibility." "Yes, but now we have suspiciously interesting holes." Seras laughed. "That is an unfortunate description." Yukari smiled. "Accurate, though." They continued the survey. The subsurface readings remained incomplete. The old masonry interfered with several measurements. The ground beneath the courtyard contained an irregular mixture of stone, compacted soil and collapsed construction material. But the patterns were suggestive. An underground structure might once have extended beneath several buildings. Some sections had collapsed. Others remained hollow. Mai created a preliminary model. Ace examined it. "That's a mess." "Yes." "Can we tell where the original passages went?" "Not yet." Shammy pointed toward one section. "That appears deeper than the others." Mai enlarged it. A narrow region extended beneath the northern wall. Its depth was greater than the shallow cavities they'd already identified. Yukari studied the orientation. "That doesn't look like a normal cellar." Mai nodded. "Not necessarily." Seras leaned closer. For a moment, she seemed to recognize something. Then frowned. "No." Ace turned. "What?" Seras shook her head. "Nothing certain." Mai looked toward her. "Take your time." Seras studied the model again. "He once mentioned a lower level." The others became attentive. "Below the residential rooms?" Mai asked. "Possibly." "Did he describe it?" "Not in detail." Seras looked toward the northern wall. "He said some of the older foundations were built over." "That would fit." "And that there were passages nobody used anymore." Ace smiled. "Now we're talking." Seras looked toward her. "But I don't know whether he meant this castle." The smile faded slightly. "Or another." "Then we keep investigating." Seras looked relieved. Not because Mai had solved the problem. Because she hadn't demanded certainty. By midafternoon, the group had completed the main interior survey. Several areas remained inaccessible. One building was too unstable to approach. Another contained an exposed drop concealed beneath vegetation. The southern passage had been marked as dangerous. And the deeper subsurface structure remained unidentified. Mai reviewed the results. "We've learned quite a lot." Ace nodded. "Agreed." "The castle is more damaged than expected." "Definitely." "The surviving northern section is our best candidate for further investigation." "Looks that way." "And we have evidence of underground spaces." Ace grinned. "Excellent." Shammy studied the model. "But we haven't found a safe entrance." "Exactly." Yukari looked toward the northern wall. "Perhaps the original access was elsewhere." Seras considered. "That would make sense." Ace looked toward her. "Any ideas?" The Vampire Queen studied the ruins. For a long moment, she didn't answer. Then she looked toward the courtyard. "Maybe." Mai raised an eyebrow. "Maybe?" Seras smiled faintly. "He once complained about a staircase." "Of course he did." Seras laughed. "Apparently, it was terribly inconvenient." Yukari smiled. "He seems to have had strong opinions about architecture." "Very strong." Mai leaned forward. "Do you remember where it was?" Seras looked toward the surviving buildings. "Not exactly." Then she pointed toward the northern section. "But I think it was somewhere near here." Ace followed her gesture. A partially collapsed wall stood beyond the chamber. Several foundation stones extended toward the courtyard. Between them lay a mound of rubble. Mai studied the area. "The scanner readings are inconclusive there." Shammy looked toward the stones. "Too much material." "Yes." Ace smiled. "Then perhaps that's where we start tomorrow." Mai nodded. "After establishing a safe approach." "Naturally." They left the northern building shortly before four. The sunlight had begun moving toward the western ridge. Shadows stretched across the courtyard. The castle looked different now. Not less ruined. Not more impressive. Simply more understandable. They had walked through its surviving rooms. Identified the unstable structures. Mapped the exterior walls. And begun reconstructing the underground spaces. For Ace and Mai, the castle was becoming a practical problem. For Shammy, it was an old structure slowly surrendering to time. For Yukari, it was another reminder of how much the world could change. For Seras, it was something else entirely. She stood beside the surviving gatehouse. Looking back toward the courtyard. The empty windows. The fallen stones. The remains of a place she had known only through someone else's memories. For a long time, she said nothing. Then she laughed quietly. Ace turned. "What?" Seras shook her head. "It's ridiculous." "What is?" She looked toward the ruins. "I spent years imagining this place." Ace listened. "Not constantly. Not even often." Seras smiled faintly. "But whenever he mentioned it, I pictured something enormous." Mai approached. "And now?" Seras looked around. "Now it's a few broken walls and a courtyard full of weeds." Shammy smiled gently. "Time is very thorough." Seras nodded. "Yes." Yukari stood beside her. "Disappointed?" Seras considered. "Not exactly." "Then what?" The Vampire Queen looked toward the old walls. For a moment, she seemed uncertain how to answer. Finally, she said: "Sad." Nobody rushed to fill the silence. Seras continued. "He always seemed so..." She paused. "Permanent." Yukari nodded. "Yes." "As though nothing could ever truly touch him." Seras looked toward the broken gate. "And yet everything he built is falling apart." Mai followed her gaze. "Buildings do that." "I know." Seras smiled faintly. "That's what makes it so irritating." Ace stepped closer. "Seras." The Vampire Queen looked toward her. Ace shrugged. "Maybe the walls weren't the important part." Seras blinked. "What?" Ace gestured toward the ruins. "He's been gone a long time. The castle's falling apart. But you're standing here because you remember him." Seras stared at her. Ace continued. "And we're here because Collector wants a goblet that belonged to him." She smiled faintly. "Seems to me the bastard left quite an impression." For several seconds, Seras said nothing. Then she laughed. Softly. "That's one way of putting it." Ace grinned. "I'm very good at putting things." Mai raised an eyebrow. "Some things." "Darling." Shammy laughed. Yukari smiled. Seras looked toward Ace. Then, unexpectedly, reached out and embraced her. Ace blinked. Then returned the embrace. "Hey." Seras held her for a moment. "Thank you." Ace smiled. "Anytime." When they separated, Seras looked toward Mai and Shammy. Then Yukari. Her expression was warm. Grateful. And considerably less burdened than when they had entered the castle. They completed the final safety checks before leaving. Mai confirmed that the unstable areas were clearly recorded. Ace checked the route back to the old approach. Shammy ensured that no equipment had been left behind. Yukari looked toward the northern building one last time. Seras stood beside her. "Tomorrow," she said. Yukari nodded. "Tomorrow." Seras looked toward the ruined wall. "I think I remember something about that staircase." Yukari turned. "Something useful?" "Perhaps." "Would you like to tell the others?" Seras considered. "Not yet." Yukari smiled. "All right." The Vampire Queen looked toward her. "You're not going to ask?" "No." "Why?" "Because you'll tell us when you're ready." Seras laughed softly. "You're becoming terribly predictable." "An unfortunate consequence of being very old." Seras chuckled. Then looked toward the ruins again. For a moment, she remembered Alucard's voice. A deep, amused remark about the stupidity of architects. A complaint about narrow stairs. A warning that the old foundations were more complicated than they appeared. She closed her eyes. Not to escape the memory. To hold it for a moment longer. Then she opened them again. "All right," she said. "Let's go." --- The descent was easier than the climb. They followed the marked route. Crossed the stream. Returned to the vehicle. And reached their accommodation while there was still daylight. Ace immediately announced that the expedition required a proper dinner. Mai agreed. Shammy volunteered to help arrange it. Yukari expressed a preference for tea afterward. Seras laughed. For the first time since arriving in Romania, she found herself looking forward to the evening without thinking constantly about the ruins. They had found the castle. They had entered it. And the experience had not broken her. It had hurt. More than she expected. But she had not faced that pain alone. At dinner, Ace raised her glass. "To successful archaeology." Mai smiled. "Preliminary survey work." Ace sighed. "To successful preliminary survey work." Shammy laughed. Yukari raised her tea. "To old stones." Seras smiled. "And inconvenient staircases." Ace grinned. "Now that's a toast." Their glasses met. And for a while, the castle could wait. --- Much later, Seras sat beside the window of her room. The mountains were dark. The village was quiet. On her tablet, the day's survey results remained open. She studied the northern building. The old foundations. The suspected underground spaces. Then the partially collapsed section where she believed a staircase might once have stood. She remembered Alucard speaking about the place. About its walls. Its passageways. Its inconvenient architecture. And something else. A remark she had almost forgotten. *The old stairs were never meant for guests, police girl.* She frowned. Had he meant the castle? Or another building? She couldn't remember. Not clearly. But the words remained. And somewhere beneath them was another memory. Something about a lower chamber. Something he had mentioned only once. Seras closed the tablet. Then looked toward the mountains. "Goddammit, Alucard." Her voice was quiet. Almost affectionate. "You could have left me a proper map." She smiled faintly. Then laughed at herself. Outside, the mountains remained silent. The ruins waited beneath the stars. And beneath their fractured foundations, the old passages remained hidden. Not by magic. Not by a curse. Simply by six centuries of neglect, collapsed stone, and the stubborn persistence of history. Tomorrow, the five women would begin looking for a way beneath the castle. And Seras Victoria would discover whether the staircase she remembered had survived long enough to lead them there. --- ## Chapter 7 — Beneath the Ruins Seras arrived at breakfast carrying a drawing. Ace looked up from her coffee. "Please tell me that's not another map." Seras smiled. "Good morning to you too." "That depends on the answer." Mai set down her tablet. "A drawing?" Seras nodded. "Something I remembered last night." Yukari, who had been quietly enjoying her tea, looked toward her with interest. "The staircase?" "Yes." Seras placed the drawing on the table. It showed a rectangular chamber, a narrow passage and what appeared to be a staircase descending along one wall. The drawing was rough. The proportions were uncertain. And several sections had been left blank. Mai leaned forward immediately. "Where did this come from?" "Memory." "Alucard's?" "Partly." Seras pulled out a chair. "He once described a staircase beneath one of his residences. I remembered the conversation yesterday." Ace examined the drawing. "Was he complaining about it?" Seras laughed. "Actually, yes." "Naturally." "He said it was badly designed." Mai studied the layout. "What was wrong with it?" "Too narrow. Too steep. And apparently whoever built it had neglected to consider that people might need to carry heavy objects up and down." Shammy smiled. "An understandable complaint." Yukari tilted her head. "Depending on the objects." Seras nodded. "Exactly." Ace pointed toward the drawing. "What's that?" A short passage extended from the bottom of the staircase before disappearing into the unmarked section of the page. Seras looked at it. "That's the part I can't remember." Mai considered. "Did he tell you where the staircase led?" "Not precisely." "Did he say it was in this castle?" Seras hesitated. "No." Ace glanced toward Mai. Mai nodded. "Then we treat it as a possibility." Seras looked relieved. "Thank you." Ace reached for another piece of toast. "Well, personally, I think any castle whose owner complains about the stairs for several centuries deserves an inspection." Yukari smiled. "A sound architectural principle." Shammy laughed. Mai shook her head. "Finish your breakfast." Ace grinned. "Yes, darling." --- They reached the ruins shortly after nine. The morning was clear, though clouds had gathered above the distant mountains. Shammy studied the sky. "No serious weather today." Ace looked at her. "Forecast?" "Yes, love." "Actual forecast?" Shammy smiled. "Yes." "Good." Yukari adjusted her pack. "You're becoming suspicious of perfectly innocent meteorology." Ace stared. "Have you met our meteorologist?" Shammy kissed her cheek. "Behave." Ace sighed. "Everyone's against me." Seras laughed. "Not everyone." Ace looked hopeful. "Really?" "I'm merely enjoying the spectacle." "Wonderful." The old gatehouse was exactly as they had left it. The collapsed stones remained undisturbed. The narrow route around the unstable entrance was still passable. Mai checked the monitoring markers they had established during the previous survey. "No significant movement." Ace nodded. "Good." Shammy examined the southern wall. The small section that had collapsed the previous day had settled into a mound of loose masonry. Nothing suggested further immediate movement. But the fractures above it remained visible. Mai marked the area as prohibited. "Nobody goes near that." Ace looked toward her. "Agreed." Seras studied the fallen stones. "That wall has probably been failing for centuries." "Yes," Mai said. "Yesterday we happened to be there when part of it finally gave way." Yukari smiled faintly. "Time rarely announces its schedule." Ace grinned. "Except Collector." Mai laughed. "Except Collector." --- They established their equipment beside the northern building. The surviving structure looked less like a castle and more like a collection of stubborn architectural decisions. A long wall stood beside the remains of a courtyard. Several foundations extended beneath fallen stone. Trees had grown through the ruins. And the suspected underground spaces remained hidden beneath layers of rubble and accumulated soil. Mai displayed the previous day's survey. "All right. We're concentrating on this section." She highlighted the partially collapsed wall near the northern courtyard. "The subsurface readings suggest a deeper cavity beneath the original foundations." Ace nodded. "And Seras remembers a staircase." "Possibly." "Possibly remembers a staircase." "Correct." Ace sighed. "You're very committed to that word." Mai smiled. "Professionally." Shammy examined the map. "The main difficulty is finding access without disturbing the unstable material." Mai nodded. "Exactly." Yukari looked toward the ruins. "Then perhaps we should begin by looking for what remains of the original structure rather than trying to move anything." Seras smiled. "That sounds sensible." Ace grinned. "Look at us. Five women behaving responsibly." Mai raised an eyebrow. "Four women and you." Ace stared. Shammy began laughing. "Darling!" Mai kissed her cheek. "Love you." "That doesn't excuse everything." "No?" "Almost everything." They began with a detailed examination of the northern foundations. Ace worked along the outer edge, checking for visible gaps and safer approaches. Mai operated the structural scanner. Shammy examined the masonry and loose material. Yukari helped document features that were difficult to see from ground level. Seras remained nearby, comparing the emerging picture with her uncertain memories. For the first hour, they found little. A collapsed doorway. A blocked passage. Several sections of masonry that appeared to belong to different construction periods. And a remarkable quantity of vegetation. Ace stared at an enormous root that had forced its way between two stone blocks. "Impressive." Shammy approached. "What?" "That tree." She studied it. The root had slowly displaced several pieces of ancient masonry. "Yes." Ace grinned. "Six centuries of military engineering defeated by a plant." Shammy smiled. "Plants can be very persistent." Yukari looked toward her. "An observation from considerable experience?" Shammy laughed. "Possibly." Seras examined the root. "Alucard would have hated this." Ace nodded. "Definitely." "He'd probably have declared war on the tree." Yukari smiled. "And lost." Seras looked at her. Then burst out laughing. "Oh, absolutely." The first useful discovery came from Shammy. She had been examining an irregular line of stones near the eastern edge of the building. "Mai?" Mai looked up. "Yes?" "Come and see this." The others gathered. Shammy pointed toward a partly exposed section of masonry. Several rectangular stones extended beneath the collapsed wall. Their upper surfaces were worn. But their alignment was unusual. Mai crouched beside them. "Interesting." Ace sighed. "Number seven." Mai ignored her. The stones formed a descending sequence. Not a smooth slope. A series of distinct levels. Ace leaned closer. "Steps?" Mai nodded slowly. "Possibly." Seras moved forward. For a moment, she simply stared. Yukari noticed immediately. "Seras?" The Vampire Queen looked at the stones. Then toward the collapsed wall. "That..." She stopped. Mai looked up. "What?" Seras shook her head. "I'm not certain." "That's fine." Seras approached the edge of the stable ground. She studied the exposed stones. Then looked at her drawing. "The orientation." Mai compared the two. "The staircase in your sketch descends along the wall." "Yes." "And this structure appears to do the same." Seras nodded. A faint smile appeared. "Perhaps." Ace grinned. "Looks promising." Shammy examined the surrounding material. "But most of the staircase is buried." Mai nodded. "And the upper wall is unstable." Ace studied the stones. "So we can't simply clear the debris." "No." Seras looked disappointed. Only slightly. But Yukari noticed. She gently touched her arm. "We've found something." Seras looked toward her. Then smiled. "Yes." "That's progress." "It is." The next problem was determining whether the staircase led anywhere accessible. Mai performed several scans from different angles. The results were frustrating. Collapsed stone interfered with the readings. Metallic fragments embedded in the old masonry produced additional distortion. And the depth of the suspected cavity remained difficult to establish. Ace examined the display. "That looks like a bowl of spaghetti." Mai smiled. "A remarkably technical assessment." "Thank you." Shammy pointed toward one section. "What if we scan from the western side?" Mai considered. "The wall is thicker there." "Yes, but the ground is higher." Mai looked toward the terrain. Then nodded. "Good point." They moved around the building. The western side was less damaged. A narrow section of exposed foundation extended beneath the surviving wall. The ground was comparatively stable. Mai established a new scanning position. A few minutes later, the display changed. Ace leaned forward. "Oh." "Yes." A narrow void appeared beneath the masonry. It descended from the suspected staircase. Then turned. And continued beneath the foundations. Shammy studied the image. "That looks like a passage." Mai nodded. "Possibly." Ace grinned. "You're going to say possibly until we actually walk through it, aren't you?" "Probably." Seras laughed. Yukari smiled. "At least she's consistent." The passage extended farther than the earlier survey had suggested. Not dramatically. But enough to establish that the underground structure was larger than a simple cellar. Mai rotated the model. A narrow descending section led toward a wider space. Beyond it, the readings became uncertain again. Ace examined the projection. "That's a proper underground complex." "At least part of one." Seras studied it. Her expression became thoughtful. "That turn." Yukari looked toward her. "What about it?" Seras pointed toward the passage. "He mentioned a turn." Mai leaned closer. "Alucard?" "Yes." Seras frowned. "I remember him describing an old staircase that descended into a passage. He said it turned sharply before reaching the lower rooms." Ace looked toward the model. "Like that?" "Perhaps." "It fits the physical evidence." Seras looked uncertain. "But I still don't know whether he meant this castle." Yukari smiled. "Then we don't assume." Seras returned the smile. "Right." They spent the next hour examining the surrounding foundations. The northern wall contained several architectural features that suggested repeated alterations. Some stones appeared to belong to the original structure. Others had clearly been added later. A narrow section near the western corner had been filled with smaller masonry. Mai studied it. "That's different." Ace approached. "Different how?" "The stonework." Shammy nodded. "The blocks are smaller." "And the mortar composition appears different." Seras examined the wall. "Repairs?" "Possibly." Ace looked at Mai. "Or something was closed." Mai nodded. "Also possible." Yukari tilted her head. "Could there have been another entrance?" Mai examined the historical reconstruction. "Yes." Ace grinned. "Now we're getting somewhere." They mapped the altered section. Then compared its position against the underground void. The result was encouraging. The masonry lay directly above the suspected passage. But the ground around it remained stable. Mai studied the readings. "That's worth investigating." Ace nodded. "Without breaking anything." Mai smiled. "Exactly." Seras looked toward the wall. "Alucard never mentioned a second entrance." Yukari glanced at her. "Perhaps he had no reason to." Seras considered. "Perhaps." --- The altered masonry turned out to be more complicated than expected. Part of it concealed the remains of a doorway. Not a grand entrance. A narrow opening, barely wide enough for one person. It had been partly blocked by collapsed material. But the upper stone lintel remained visible. Ace examined it. "Well." Mai looked toward her. "What?" "That's definitely a doorway." Shammy smiled. "Yes." "An actual doorway." "Yes, love." "Leading into an ancient underground passage." Mai raised an eyebrow. "Not necessarily." Ace closed her eyes. "Darling." Mai laughed. "All right. It may lead into the passage." "Thank you." Yukari studied the opening. "The lower section is buried." Seras nodded. "And the surviving stones look fragile." Mai checked the scanner. "The lintel itself appears relatively stable. The material beneath it is another matter." Ace crouched. She examined the debris. Some stones were loose. Others were wedged beneath the old doorway. The ground beyond sloped downward. "Can we see inside?" Mai adjusted the portable camera. "Let's find out." The small inspection camera entered through a narrow gap beside the surviving lintel. Its light illuminated stone. Dust. More stone. Then darkness. Mai slowly advanced it. The image shifted. A narrow passage appeared. Its walls were rough. The ceiling had survived in part, though several sections showed evidence of long-standing cracks. The floor sloped downward. And beyond the camera's initial reach, a darker opening suggested a continuation. Ace leaned closer. "Oh, that is beautiful." Mai smiled. "Professionally speaking?" "Absolutely." Shammy examined the image. "The passage appears intact." "Partly," Mai replied. Yukari looked toward the dark opening. "And it continues." Seras had become very quiet. She stared at the screen. For a moment, her expression was almost impossible to read. Then she spoke. "I remember that." Everyone turned. Seras pointed toward a narrow recess visible in the passage wall. "There." Mai enlarged the image. A shallow rectangular opening had been built into the stonework. It was empty. The edges were worn. Ace looked curious. "What is it?" Seras swallowed. "He described a place where lamps were kept." Mai examined the recess. "That would make sense." Seras nodded slowly. "He said the lower passage was always dark." Yukari gently rested a hand against her back. Seras looked toward her. Then smiled faintly. "I think this is it." The group fell quiet. Not because they had discovered something supernatural. Because the search had suddenly become real. The castle. The road. The underground structure. The staircase. The passage. They had begun with scattered historical references and local stories. Now they were looking at a physical structure beneath the ruins. One that might actually lead toward the burial vault they had come to find. Ace looked toward Mai. "So." Mai nodded. "So." "How do we get inside?" Mai examined the readings. "Carefully." Ace grinned. "Excellent." Then Mai added: "Not through that opening." Ace's smile vanished. "WHAT?" Shammy began laughing. Yukari covered her mouth. Seras smiled. Mai pointed toward the scanner. "The lower stones are unstable. Removing them without proper support could cause the doorway to collapse." Ace looked toward the opening. Then back at Mai. "Fine." "Fine?" "Fine." Mai smiled. "That was easier than expected." Ace shrugged. "I'm occasionally reasonable." Yukari raised an eyebrow. "How occasionally?" Ace pointed at her. "Don't." They continued surveying the surrounding structure. The camera had confirmed that the underground passage existed. The next task was finding a safe way to reach it. Mai compared the void's position against the original staircase. The staircase remained blocked by debris. The narrow doorway was too unstable. But the deeper scans suggested another possibility. A section of the northern building had collapsed inward. The collapse had exposed part of an old lower wall. And beside it, a narrow vertical gap extended toward the underground level. Ace examined the position. "That looks accessible." Mai frowned. "Potentially." Shammy studied the surrounding masonry. "The upper structure is damaged." "Yes." Yukari looked toward the gap. "But the lower stones appear more substantial." Mai nodded. "Possibly part of the original foundation." Seras looked at the image. "Could that have been an older access route?" Mai considered. "Perhaps. Or simply a collapsed section exposing the lower level." Ace smiled. "Either way, it's worth inspecting." "From a safe distance first." They approached the northern collapse. The rubble formed an uneven slope toward a partially exposed stone opening. Loose masonry covered the upper section. But the lower foundation appeared intact. A narrow gap led beneath an overhanging block. Ace crouched and looked inside. "Dark." Mai moved beside her. "Obviously." "Very dark." "That's why we brought lights." "Darling, you're ruining my professional observations." Shammy laughed. Mai activated a small inspection drone. It moved cautiously into the gap. A light illuminated the lower stones. Then the camera rotated. The passage beyond became visible. Ace grinned. "That's it." "Looks like it." The drone advanced. The image showed a short, descending space leading toward the same lower passage they had seen from the blocked doorway. The walls were rough but comparatively intact. The ceiling remained supported by substantial stonework. Mai examined the structural readings. "Better." Ace looked toward her. "How much better?" "Enough to investigate further." "Now we're talking." The first problem was the loose material above the opening. Several stones rested against the exposed foundation. They were not directly blocking access. But movement beneath them could disturb the debris. Mai studied the configuration. "We need to keep well clear of the upper section." Ace nodded. "Agreed." "There's a narrow approach along the stable rock to the west." Shammy examined it. "That should work." Yukari looked toward the slope. "One person at a time." "Yes," Mai said. Seras studied the opening. Then looked toward the others. "I could move the loose stones." Mai shook her head. "Not without knowing what they're supporting." Seras nodded immediately. "Fair." Ace grinned. "See? Archaeology is mostly resisting the temptation to move rocks." Mai smiled. "Sometimes." Shammy laughed. "And occasionally discovering that the rocks move themselves." Ace looked toward the collapsed southern wall. "Yes. We've had enough of that." Ace approached first. She moved along the stable rock, carefully testing her footing. The gap was narrow. But passable. She crouched beside the exposed foundation and examined the opening. "Looks good from here." Mai checked her scanner. "Stay where you are." Ace waited. A few seconds passed. Then Mai nodded. "All right. Move forward slowly." Ace entered the gap. The stone ceiling passed close above her head. Loose dust covered the floor. But the main foundation beneath her feet remained solid. She advanced several meters. Then stopped. "Okay." Mai's voice came through her communication link. "What do you see?" "A passage." "Condition?" "Better than expected." "Any movement?" "None." "Ceiling?" "Intact here. Some cracks farther down." Ace looked toward the darkness. Then smiled. "And stairs." Mai blinked. "Stairs?" "Actual stairs." Seras went very still outside. Yukari looked toward her. Ace continued. "Five visible steps. Maybe more below." Mai examined the camera feed. The old stone staircase descended into darkness. Its surfaces were worn. Several edges had chipped away. But the surviving structure appeared remarkably substantial. Mai looked toward Seras. "You were right." The Vampire Queen stared at the image. For a moment, she couldn't speak. Then she whispered: "Oh, God." Yukari gently took her hand. Seras looked toward her. The kitsune smiled. "We found them." Seras nodded. "Yes." Mai followed Ace after completing the safety checks. Shammy remained outside with the main equipment. Yukari and Seras waited beside her. The passage was narrow enough that moving everyone inside immediately would have been impractical. Mai and Ace examined the staircase. "Interesting," Mai murmured. Ace grinned. "Number eight." Mai laughed. The stairs were steep. Narrow. And constructed with very little consideration for comfortable movement. Ace looked down. "Well." Mai smiled. "What?" "Seras wasn't kidding." "About?" "The architect." Mai examined the steps. "They're functional." "For people with unusually short legs and no luggage." Mai laughed. "That does sound inconvenient." Ace looked toward the upper landing. "Alucard apparently had a point." Then a sharp cracking sound echoed somewhere behind them. Both women stopped immediately. Mai looked toward the passage entrance. "Hold." Ace froze. Another small sound followed. Stone scraping against stone. Outside, Shammy's voice came through the communication link. "Mai. Ace. There's movement in the loose material above the opening." Mai checked the structural readings. "Understood." Ace looked toward the stairs. The foundation beneath them was stable. The narrow approach behind them was not. "How much movement?" Shammy answered. "Small stones. The upper debris is settling." Mai examined the scanner. "Could affect the entrance." Seras's voice followed. "Can I help?" Mai considered the situation. "Not by moving the stones. Stay clear of the slope." "Understood." Ace looked toward Mai. "What's the plan?" "Wait until the movement stops. Then reassess." Ace nodded. "Agreed." They remained still. A small stone fell somewhere outside. Then another. The sound echoed through the passage. For several seconds, nobody spoke. Then the movement stopped. Mai waited another full minute. The scanner readings stabilized. Outside, Shammy reported: "No further movement." Mai examined the entrance. "The approach is compromised." Ace nodded. "Can we get back safely?" "Possibly. But not immediately." Ace looked toward the staircase. Then back toward the entrance. For once, she didn't make a joke. "All right." Outside, Yukari studied the exposed slope. The loose material had shifted slightly. Several small stones now rested near the narrow approach. The main foundation remained intact. Seras looked toward the opening. Her expression was calm. Entirely controlled. But concerned. "Can they come out?" Shammy examined the readings. "Not until Mai confirms the route." Yukari nodded. "Then we wait." Seras looked toward her. "You aren't worried?" "Of course I'm concerned." Yukari smiled gently. "But worrying doesn't make the stones more stable." Seras considered. "True." Inside, Mai completed another scan. The narrow route remained passable, but a loose block above it had become unstable. Ace examined the position through her camera. "That one?" "Yes." "Looks unpleasant." "Very." Shammy studied the exterior. Then pointed toward a stable section of exposed bedrock beside the entrance. "Mai, there's another approach." Mai checked the external feed. "Show me." Shammy moved the camera. A narrow ledge ran along the western edge of the foundation. It connected to a comparatively stable section of rock. Mai examined the geometry. "That might work." Ace looked toward the image. "Tight." "Yes." "But possible." "Yes." Mai paused. Then smiled faintly. "Provided you don't complain about the architecture." Ace stared at her. Then began laughing. "Oh, fuck you." Outside, Seras heard the exchange. And laughed too. The tension eased. Not because the danger had disappeared. Because everyone was doing exactly what they needed to do. The alternative route proved workable. Ace moved first, following Mai's instructions along the stable bedrock. She passed beneath the exposed foundation without disturbing the loose material. Then emerged into daylight. Shammy immediately checked her. "All right, love?" Ace smiled. "Perfectly." Mai followed a few minutes later. When she emerged, Ace embraced her. "Well." Mai smiled. "Well." "That was educational." "Very." Shammy looked relieved. Yukari smiled. Seras approached them. "Everyone all right?" Ace nodded. "Absolutely." Then she looked toward the unstable approach. "But we're not using that entrance again without proper support." Mai nodded. "Agreed." Seras studied the exposed stone. For a moment, her expression became thoughtful. Then she looked toward the old staircase on Mai's display. "Those steps." Mai turned. "Yes?" Seras smiled faintly. "He really did hate them." Ace began laughing. "Well, I understand why." The discovery changed their plans. They now knew where the old staircase was. They knew it descended toward the deeper passage. And they had confirmed that at least part of the underground structure remained intact. But the exposed approach was unsafe. Mai reviewed the options. "We'll need to establish a properly supported route before sending anyone farther." Ace nodded. "Can we do that with what we have?" "Possibly. We have the necessary survey and stabilization equipment, but we need to understand the load distribution first." Shammy examined the structural model. "The lower passage looks better than the upper ruins." "Yes." Yukari studied the map. "Then perhaps the safest access is still through the original staircase." Mai nodded. "That may be true." Seras looked toward the blocked steps. "Perhaps there's another way into the lower passage." Ace turned. "What makes you think that?" Seras considered. "Old buildings were often altered." "Yes." "And Alucard mentioned passages that were no longer used." Ace smiled. "More inconvenient architecture." Seras laughed. "Exactly." They returned to the survey position. Mai combined the latest readings with the previous day's model. The results were considerably clearer now. The underground structure consisted of several connected spaces. A narrow stairwell. A descending passage. A wider chamber. And beyond that, another section extending beneath the older foundations. The final section remained partly obscured. But its outline was visible. Ace leaned forward. "That." Mai looked up. "What?" "The deeper chamber." Shammy studied the model. "It appears larger." Yukari nodded. "And more regular." Seras looked toward the projection. For a moment, her expression changed. She stared at the lower chamber. Then slowly shook her head. "No." Yukari looked toward her. "Seras?" The Vampire Queen frowned. "I remember something." Everyone became quiet. Seras looked toward the model. "He once described a chamber beneath the old foundations." Mai listened carefully. "Did he say what it was?" Seras hesitated. "Not exactly." She looked toward the staircase. Then the lower passage. Then the deeper chamber. "He said some places were built to keep people out." Ace raised an eyebrow. "Defensive architecture?" "Perhaps." Seras shook her head. "But he also said some places were built because people couldn't bear to let the dead go." Silence. Yukari gently touched her hand. Seras looked toward her. The kitsune smiled. "Take your time." Seras nodded. Then looked back at the display. "I think..." She stopped. Took a slow breath. Then continued. "I think that's where the burial chamber may be." Nobody spoke for several seconds. Then Mai nodded. "That would be consistent with the depth and layout." Ace looked toward the model. "So we've found it?" Mai smiled faintly. "We've found a promising candidate." Ace sighed. "Of course." Shammy laughed softly. Yukari looked toward Seras. "How do you feel?" The Vampire Queen considered. For a moment, she seemed unsure. Then she smiled faintly. "Strange." Yukari nodded. "Understandable." Seras looked toward the ruins. "I thought finding the place would make things easier." "And?" "It hasn't." Yukari gently squeezed her hand. "No." Seras laughed softly. "You're not going to tell me it'll be fine?" "No." "Why?" "Because I don't know that." Seras studied her. Then smiled. "You're very consistent." Yukari returned the smile. "One of my better qualities." --- The remaining afternoon was devoted to planning. Mai identified the safest possible route toward the lower passage. Ace examined the exposed foundations. Shammy helped assess the unstable material. Yukari assisted with the survey. Seras remained involved, offering what information she could remember without trying to turn uncertain recollections into established facts. By late afternoon, they had a workable plan. Not an effortless one. But a practical one. The blocked original staircase could not be safely cleared from above. The narrow exposed entrance remained unstable. However, a small section of the western foundation contained a surviving opening into the lower passage. It was partly obscured by vegetation and loose soil. But unlike the other approaches, its supporting masonry appeared intact. Mai examined the final readings. "That may be our entrance." Ace nodded. "Can we use it?" "After a closer assessment." "Naturally." Shammy smiled. "Tomorrow?" Mai looked toward the sky. "Yes." Ace grinned. "Excellent." Seras looked toward the ruins. Her expression was quiet. Thoughtful. Yukari stood beside her. Neither spoke for a while. Then Seras whispered: "We're getting close." Yukari nodded. "Yes." Seras looked toward the old walls. For a moment, she seemed to be listening to a voice only she remembered. Then she smiled faintly. "Goddammit, Alucard." Yukari looked toward her. "What?" Seras shook her head. "He really could have made this easier." Yukari laughed. "Perhaps he preferred making people work for things." Seras smiled. "Oh, he certainly did." They completed the final equipment checks and prepared to leave. Ace looked toward the ruins one last time. "Well." Mai smiled. "Yes?" "We found the staircase." "Yes." "We found the passage." "Yes." "And we may have found the burial chamber." "Possibly." Ace sighed. "You're never going to stop doing that, are you?" Mai kissed her cheek. "No." Shammy laughed. Yukari smiled. Seras looked toward the mountains. For the first time since arriving in Romania, the journey felt as though it had a clear destination. Not merely a castle. Not merely a collection of old stories. A place beneath the ruins. A place connected to Alucard's mortal history. A place where something personal might still remain. And for the first time, she was not entirely certain whether she wanted to reach it. That evening, the five women shared dinner at their accommodation. Ace complained about the amount of walking. Mai reminded her that she had volunteered to lead the expedition. Shammy offered to massage her legs. Ace immediately stopped complaining. "An effective negotiation." Seras laughed. For a while, the conversation remained light. But later, when the others had gone to their rooms, Seras stood beside the window. The mountains were dark. The village was quiet. She looked toward the distant ridges. Somewhere beyond them lay the old castle. And beneath it, perhaps, the resting place of a man who had never truly rested. Seras smiled faintly at the irony. Then her expression softened. She remembered Alucard speaking about death. About graves. About the absurdity of human attempts to preserve the past. He had always sounded amused. As though history itself were an elaborate joke told at someone else's expense. And now she was standing in his homeland, searching for a drinking vessel he had once owned. She laughed quietly. "Oh, you magnificent bastard." The words were affectionate. But the affection hurt. A soft knock came at the door. "Seras?" Yukari. Seras turned. "Come in." The kitsune entered quietly. She looked toward the window. "Thinking?" Seras smiled. "Unfortunately." Yukari approached. "Would you like company?" Seras nodded. "Yes." They stood together. For a while, neither spoke. Then Seras looked toward the mountains. "I think we're going to find it." Yukari nodded. "Perhaps." Seras laughed. "You're beginning to sound like Mai." "A compliment." "Absolutely." A pause. Then Seras spoke again. "I'm not sure I'm ready." Yukari looked toward her. "For the chamber?" "Yes." The kitsune gently took her hand. "Then we'll take it slowly." "And if I..." She stopped. Yukari waited. Seras looked away. "If I need a moment." Yukari smiled. "Then you'll have one." The Vampire Queen closed her eyes. For a moment, the memories seemed terribly close. Alucard's voice. His laughter. His arrogance. His impossible confidence. And the empty space he had left behind. When she opened her eyes again, Yukari was still there. Quiet. Patient. Unhurried. Seras squeezed her hand. "Thank you." "Always." Far away, beneath the ruined castle, the lower passage remained silent. Its old steps were buried. Its walls had survived beneath centuries of collapsed masonry. And beyond them, a deeper chamber waited in darkness. No ancient curse stirred there. No supernatural guardian watched the passage. No hidden enemy prepared to confront the approaching visitors. Only stone. Dust. And the stubborn remains of a place that history had nearly forgotten. Tomorrow, the five women would return. They would search for a safe way into the lower passage. And perhaps, finally, discover whether the old burial vault truly existed. --- ## Chapter 8 — The Original Vault The fourth morning in the ruins began with an argument that, for once, had nothing to do with Ace. Seras was arguing with a staircase. Or, more accurately, with the memory of one. "Whoever designed that bloody thing should have been thrown down it." Mai looked up from her tablet. "Good morning." Seras pointed at the reconstruction displayed on the screen. "Look at it." Ace leaned closer. "Looks like stairs." "Terrible stairs." "Well, we've established that." Seras folded her arms. "Alucard complained about them for years." Yukari smiled over her tea. "Apparently, the complaint survived him." Seras looked at her. Then laughed. "Oh, very funny." Shammy approached with a plate of breakfast pastries. "Did he ever explain why they were built that way?" "Not really. Something about preventing people from carrying large objects through the lower passages." Mai paused. "Wait." Seras looked toward her. "What?" "Preventing people from carrying large objects?" "Yes." Mai turned back to her reconstruction. "That suggests the narrowness might have been intentional." Ace grinned. "Defensive architecture?" "Possibly." Seras sighed. "Then he was complaining about something he'd probably ordered built himself." Yukari considered. "That would be rather characteristic." For a moment, Seras stared at her. Then she began laughing. "Goddammit. You're probably right." Ace picked up a pastry. "Excellent. We've solved the mystery of Dracula's shitty staircase." Mai smiled. "One mystery, perhaps." Ace looked at her. "Darling." "Yes?" "Please tell me there aren't twenty more." Mai examined the subsurface model. "Only seventeen." Ace stared. Shammy laughed. Yukari looked delighted. Seras shook her head. "I really do like this family." --- They reached the castle shortly after nine. The ruins were quiet. Morning sunlight illuminated the remaining walls, and a light breeze moved through the vegetation growing between the old stones. Nothing had changed overnight. That was encouraging. The western foundation, which they had identified during the previous survey, remained their most promising approach. Mai checked the latest structural readings against the earlier scans. Ace examined the access route. Shammy helped establish the equipment station. Yukari inspected the surrounding ground. Seras stood beside the northern wall, looking toward the place where they had found the old staircase. For several moments, she remained silent. Then she turned toward the others. "Ready?" Mai nodded. "Almost." Ace grinned. "Very almost." Shammy smiled. "Which means another fifteen minutes." Seras looked offended. "Fifteen?" Mai smiled sweetly. "Twenty, if anyone complains." Ace immediately folded her arms. "You're abusing your authority." "Professionally." Yukari laughed. The Vampire Queen looked between them. Then raised both hands. "Fine. I'll be good." Ace stared. "That's a sentence I never expected to hear from you." Seras smiled, displaying the tips of her fangs. "Don't get used to it." The western opening was narrow but substantially more stable than the previous day's access. Its upper support consisted of a surviving stone lintel resting on the original foundation. The surrounding masonry had remained intact despite the collapse of the building above. Most importantly, the opening did not require disturbing the unstable material covering the original staircase. Mai had spent much of the previous evening preparing a structural model. Now she checked it one final time. "The foundation is carrying the load independently of the collapsed upper wall." Ace nodded. "So no surprises from above?" "Not from the sections we've assessed." "Good." Shammy examined the exposed stone. "The ground immediately outside is stable." Yukari nodded. "And there's sufficient room to establish a proper anchor." Mai smiled. "Exactly." Seras approached. "What would you like me to do?" Ace turned toward her. "For once?" Seras raised an eyebrow. "Yes?" "Try not to lift the entire castle." The Vampire Queen laughed. "I'll restrain myself." Mai attached a monitoring sensor to the stable foundation. "Actually, I could use your help checking the lower passage once we've confirmed access." Seras nodded. "Gladly." "But no moving ancient masonry without checking first." "Understood." Ace grinned. "Look at that. The Vampire Queen taking orders." Seras looked toward her. "Would you prefer I demonstrate my independence?" Ace considered. "No, Your Majesty." "Wise woman." --- They entered one at a time. Ace went first. The opening required her to crouch, but beyond the narrow entrance the passage widened slightly. She moved slowly, examining the floor and ceiling as she advanced. The walls were rough stone. Dust covered almost every surface. Thin roots had penetrated a few cracks near the entrance, but the deeper masonry remained comparatively intact. Ace stopped after several meters. "All right. I'm at the stairs." Mai's voice came through her communication link. "Condition?" "Better than the upper section. The steps are worn, but the structure looks solid." "Scanner agrees." "Good." Ace directed her light downward. The staircase descended steeply into darkness. Its steps were narrow. Uneven. And absolutely inconvenient. She stared at them. Then sighed. "Okay." Mai sounded amused. "What?" "I owe Alucard an apology." Seras answered immediately. "Oh?" "These stairs are fucking terrible." The laughter came through all four communication channels. Mai followed. Then Shammy. Yukari entered next. Seras came last, pausing briefly at the entrance to look back toward the ruined courtyard. Sunlight fell across the old stones. For a moment, she imagined the castle as Alucard had described it. Whole walls. A roof. Soldiers moving through the courtyard. People whose names had been forgotten. Then the image disappeared. Only the ruins remained. "Seras?" Yukari's voice was gentle. The Vampire Queen turned. "Coming." She ducked beneath the lintel. And entered the darkness. The staircase had survived remarkably well. Its upper section had been partly damaged, but the lower steps remained intact. Mai checked each section before allowing the group to continue. The descent was slow. Not because any of the women lacked the ability to move faster. Because the structure deserved caution. At the bottom, the staircase turned sharply. Exactly as Seras had remembered. She stopped. Ace, a few steps ahead, looked back. "Everything okay?" Seras stared toward the passage. "Yes." Mai examined her reconstruction. "That turn matches your drawing." Seras nodded. "I know." Shammy looked toward the ancient stonework. "Then your memory was accurate." "That part of it." Seras stepped onto the lower landing. The passage extended into darkness. Along one wall was a shallow rectangular recess. The same one the inspection camera had found. Seras approached. She held her light toward it. Then smiled faintly. "The lamps." Mai looked interested. "Oil lamps?" "That's what he described." Ace examined the recess. "Practical." Seras laughed softly. "He said the lower passage was always dark, and that the servants never remembered to refill them." Yukari smiled. "Another architectural complaint?" "An administrative one, apparently." Shammy chuckled. Ace looked down the passage. "Well, we've found the stairs and the lamps. What else did the old bastard complain about?" Seras considered. "The smell." Ace stopped smiling. "Wonderful." "Relax. He said the lower rooms were damp." Mai nodded. "That would be consistent with the construction." Ace sighed. "Good. For a moment I thought we were about to discover six centuries of neglected plumbing." Beyond the staircase, the passage continued approximately twenty meters before widening. Its ceiling was low. Several stones had shifted slightly over the centuries, but the main structure remained intact. The air was cool and still. Environmental readings showed no immediate atmospheric hazard. Mai nevertheless continued monitoring as they moved. Ace led the way. Shammy followed her. Mai maintained the structural scan. Yukari walked beside Seras. The five women advanced through a place that had not heard footsteps in a very long time. Dust shifted beneath their boots. Their lights illuminated old tool marks in the walls. Here and there, the stonework changed subtly, suggesting repairs or alterations made during different periods. Then the passage opened into a chamber. Ace stopped. "Well." Mai stepped beside her. "Oh." Shammy looked around. "That's considerably larger than the scans suggested." The room was rectangular. Its ceiling formed a shallow stone vault. Several support arches divided the space into sections. The walls contained niches of different sizes. Most were empty. A few held broken pottery or fragments of material too deteriorated to identify immediately. Along the western side, a collapsed partition blocked what appeared to have been another passage. The floor was covered in dust. But beneath it, the original paving remained visible. Yukari moved slowly into the chamber. "Beautiful." Seras stepped through the entrance. Then stopped. For a long moment, she simply stared. Ace turned. "Seras?" The Vampire Queen looked toward the support arches. Then the niches. Then the far wall. "I think..." She swallowed. "I think I know this place." Mai immediately began documenting the chamber. Ace examined the accessible perimeter. Shammy checked the visible masonry. Yukari remained beside Seras. Nothing moved. No hidden mechanism activated. No supernatural presence stirred. It was an old room beneath an old castle. And that was quite enough. Seras approached one of the niches. She studied the stonework. Then smiled faintly. "He told me about these." Mai looked up. "What were they used for?" "Storage, originally. At least some of them." "Anything specific?" Seras shook her head. "Not that I remember." Ace examined a broken ceramic vessel. "Well, somebody left their dishes behind." Mai smiled. "Careful." "I'm not touching anything." "Good." Shammy looked toward the chamber's western wall. "The construction changes over there." Mai followed her gaze. A section of older stonework extended beneath the later masonry. Its blocks were larger. More regular. And considerably less damaged. Mai approached. "You're right." Ace grinned. "Another interesting wall?" "An extremely interesting wall." Ace sighed. "Of course." The older structure occupied the deepest part of the chamber. A broad stone arch had been incorporated into the western wall. Its lower section was partly hidden behind collapsed material, but the original opening remained recognizable. Beyond it, their lights revealed a narrower passage. Mai checked the structural readings. "The arch itself appears stable." Shammy examined the fallen stones. "Most of the collapse came from the later partition." "Yes." Ace looked through the opening. "Passage continues." Yukari approached. "And slopes slightly downward." Seras had become very quiet. She stared at the arch. For a moment, she seemed almost reluctant to move closer. Then she whispered: "That." Mai turned. "What?" Seras pointed toward the upper stonework. A carved band ran across the arch. Most of its decoration was worn. But several shallow geometric patterns remained visible. Seras approached slowly. "He described that." Mai looked interested. "The carving?" "Yes." Seras studied it. Then laughed softly. "He said it was ugly." Ace looked toward the decoration. "Well, he wasn't entirely wrong." Yukari smiled. "Such refined architectural criticism." Seras chuckled. "He complained that whoever commissioned it had no taste." Mai examined the style. "That might help us establish the construction period." Seras nodded. Then looked toward the dark passage beyond. Her smile faded. "There's something through there." Ace raised an eyebrow. "Something you remember?" Seras hesitated. "Something he mentioned." Mai waited. Seras looked toward the passage. "He said the oldest part of the lower structure wasn't built for storage." Shammy tilted her head. "Then what was it built for?" Seras swallowed. And answered quietly. "The dead." Nobody spoke for several seconds. Then Mai nodded. "All right." Ace looked toward the passage. "Looks like we've found the right direction." Shammy studied the old arch. Yukari looked toward Seras. The Vampire Queen stood perfectly still. Her expression was controlled. But the significance of the discovery was becoming impossible to ignore. Yukari gently took her hand. Seras looked toward her. The kitsune smiled. "Ready?" Seras considered. Then nodded. "Yes." The passage beyond the arch was narrower than the main chamber. Its walls were built from substantial stone blocks. The floor descended gently. Unlike the upper ruins, this part of the structure showed little evidence of major collapse. Mai's scanner detected several minor fractures. But the main supports appeared sound. Ace moved ahead. The passage turned once. Then continued for several meters. At the far end stood another arch. Smaller. Lower. And significantly older in appearance. Ace stopped. "Mai." "Yes?" "You're going to want to see this." Mai approached. Shammy followed. Yukari and Seras remained a few steps behind. A rectangular stone panel had been set above the opening. Its surface was badly worn. But something had been carved into it. Not decoration. Writing. Mai directed her light toward the stone. Then leaned closer. "Well." Ace grinned. "Please tell me it's not another complaint about the stairs." Mai smiled. "No." She examined the surviving characters. "An inscription." Shammy looked interested. "Can you read it?" "Not completely." Mai photographed the panel and activated her translation system. The first attempt produced almost nothing useful. The second identified several possible linguistic elements. The third suggested that the inscription combined a dedicatory formula with a personal reference. Mai frowned. "Too damaged for a reliable translation." Seras approached. She looked at the inscription. For a moment, she seemed to stop breathing. Not because she needed air. Because she recognized something. A name. Not the complete inscription. Only a fragment. But enough. "Vlad." Everyone turned. Seras pointed toward the worn letters. "There." Mai enlarged the image. The surviving characters were consistent with the name. She examined them carefully. Then nodded. "Yes." Seras continued. "Drăculea." Mai looked toward her. "You recognize the wording?" "Part of it." She stared at the stone. Then closed her eyes. For a moment, the past seemed terribly close. Alucard's voice. His laughter. His infuriating certainty. A name that had survived far beyond the man who first carried it. Seras opened her eyes. And looked through the arch. "I think we've found it." The chamber beyond was smaller than the first. And very different. The walls were plain. There were no storage niches. No pottery. No evidence of ordinary domestic use. Instead, a broad stone platform occupied the center of the room. Its surface was covered in dust. The surrounding floor consisted of large fitted slabs. Several narrow recesses had been built into the walls. Above the far end of the platform, the remains of a carved stone panel were visible. Mai stopped just inside the entrance. Her expression changed. Not with fear. With professional recognition. "This is a funerary space." Ace looked toward the central platform. "A burial chamber?" "Almost certainly." Shammy examined the architecture. "The construction is substantially older than the outer buildings." Mai nodded. "And the layout is consistent with a crypt." Yukari looked toward Seras. The Vampire Queen stood at the threshold. Motionless. For a long moment, she simply stared. Then whispered: "Oh, Alucard." Nobody moved toward the central platform immediately. Mai completed the environmental checks. Ace examined the floor. Shammy inspected the ceiling supports. Yukari remained with Seras. The room was remarkably well preserved. Not untouched. Not pristine. Time had left its marks everywhere. But the deeper foundations had protected the chamber from the worst of the destruction above. Ace slowly moved along the perimeter. "Floor's solid." Mai nodded. "Agreed." Shammy examined a narrow fracture near the eastern wall. "No significant movement." "Good." Seras finally stepped inside. She looked around. Slowly. Carefully. As though the room might disappear if she moved too quickly. Yukari followed. The Vampire Queen approached the stone platform. Then stopped. There was no body. No visible remains. Only the empty stone structure. And centuries of dust. Seras looked at it. For a moment, a faint smile appeared. "Of course." Yukari turned toward her. "What?" Seras laughed quietly. "He'd have found this hilarious." Ace approached. "The empty tomb?" Seras nodded. "Yes." She looked toward the platform. "People arguing for centuries about where he'd been buried." A small laugh escaped her. "And here we are." Mai studied the structure. "An original burial vault doesn't necessarily mean his remains were ever here." Seras smiled. "I know." Yukari gently touched her arm. Seras looked toward her. Then back at the platform. "But he would have enjoyed the argument." Mai examined the carved panel beyond the platform. Its surface had been damaged. Several sections were unreadable. But enough survived to establish a connection with the historical figure they were investigating. She recorded the inscriptions. Then compared them with the earlier arch. "The references are consistent." Ace looked toward her. "Consistent with?" "A burial complex associated with Vlad III." Shammy smiled faintly. "So the local stories were pointing toward something real." "Yes." Yukari looked around. "Even if they didn't understand exactly what survived." Mai nodded. "Precisely." Seras studied the chamber. The old stone. The empty platform. The narrow recesses. The inscriptions. Everything was smaller than she had imagined. That seemed to be a recurring theme. Alucard had made the past enormous. The reality was often quiet. And strangely ordinary. She closed her eyes briefly. Then opened them again. "Well." Ace looked toward her. "Well?" Seras smiled faintly. "We found his grave." Mai considered. "We found a burial chamber associated with him." Ace sighed. "Darling." Mai laughed. Seras looked toward her. Then smiled. "Quite right." She looked back at the empty platform. "Associated with him." A pause. Then, more quietly: "Close enough for today." The goblet was discovered almost by accident. Shammy had been examining the western wall. A series of shallow recesses had been built into the stonework. Most were empty. One contained fragments of deteriorated material. Another was partly obscured by dust and fallen plaster. She directed her light into the final recess. Then stopped. "Mai?" Mai looked up. "Yes?" "Come here." Something in Shammy's voice brought the others' attention. Not alarm. Something quieter. Curiosity. Mai approached. Shammy pointed toward the recess. "There." Mai leaned closer. For several seconds, she said nothing. Then: "Oh." Ace turned. "What?" Mai carefully directed her light into the opening. A small object stood toward the back. Partly concealed by accumulated dust. Its outline was unmistakable. A bowl. A narrow stem. A broad base. Ace approached. She stared. Then looked toward Mai. "Is that..." Mai nodded slowly. "It appears to be." Shammy smiled. Yukari came closer. Seras remained where she was. For a moment, she seemed unable to move. Ace looked toward her. "Seras." The Vampire Queen turned. Ace pointed toward the recess. "Come and see." Seras approached slowly. She stopped beside Mai. Then looked into the recess. For several seconds, she said nothing. The goblet stood on a small stone shelf. Its surface was darkened with age. Dust covered the bowl. The stem appeared to be made of silver or silver-gilt, though centuries of tarnish obscured most of its original finish. A narrow decorative band ran beneath the bowl. Even beneath the dust, the engraving was visible. Vines. Fine, delicate vines. Seras stared. Her lips parted slightly. Then she whispered: "Oh." Yukari stood beside her. The others remained silent. Seras leaned a little closer. Her eyes moved over the object. The bowl. The stem. The base. The engraved band. Then she smiled. A small, almost disbelieving smile. "That's it." Mai looked toward her. "You're certain?" Seras nodded. "Yes." She pointed toward the stem. "Look there." Mai adjusted the light. Near the lower edge of the decorative band, one engraved vine ended abruptly. A few millimeters farther along, the pattern resumed. The interruption was subtle. Almost invisible beneath the tarnish. Seras smiled faintly. "He showed me that." Ace looked interested. "What?" "The broken line." Seras pointed. "He said someone had repaired the stem centuries after it was made." Mai examined the detail. "A later repair?" "Yes." Seras laughed quietly. "He complained about it." Ace grinned. "Of course he did." Seras nodded. "He said the repair was perfectly functional, but whoever did the engraving afterward had failed to match the original pattern." Shammy smiled. "A rather specific memory." Seras looked toward her. "I remember him holding it." Her voice had become very quiet. "He turned it in his hand and pointed out the mistake." Mai photographed the detail. Then compared it with the surviving historical illustration. The drawing showed the same decorative band. Not clearly enough to establish the repair. But the general design matched. Mai examined the goblet again. "That is a very strong identification detail." Seras nodded. "It is." Ace looked toward the object. Then back at Seras. "So..." Seras smiled. "Yes, Ace." A pause. Then she said it. "That's Alucard's goblet." For a long moment, nobody spoke. They had found it. Not a legendary weapon. Not an object of extraordinary supernatural power. Not some ancient mechanism capable of altering reality. A drinking vessel. An old, tarnished goblet. Something a man had once held in his hand. Something he had apparently considered worth repairing. Something that had survived centuries of history, warfare, abandonment and decay. And now it stood before them. In the original burial complex associated with Vlad Țepeș. Exactly where Collector had hoped it might be. Ace looked toward Mai. Then Shammy. A slow grin spread across her face. "Well, fuck me." Mai laughed softly. Shammy smiled. Yukari looked delighted. Seras stared at the goblet. Then, unexpectedly, laughed. Not loudly. But genuinely. "Oh, you ridiculous bastard." Ace looked toward her. "Alucard?" "Who else?" Seras shook her head. "All these years." She looked at the goblet again. "All these bloody years." Mai was the first to return to the practical problem. "Nobody touches it yet." Ace nodded immediately. "Agreed." Seras looked toward her. Mai indicated the recess. "We need to document its exact position, check the condition and confirm the recovery authorization before disturbing anything." Seras nodded. "Of course." Shammy examined the supporting stone. "The shelf appears stable." "Yes," Mai replied. "But we should assess the object itself before moving it." Ace looked toward the goblet. "Corrosion?" "Possibly. And any old repairs may be fragile." Seras smiled faintly. "He'd be furious if we damaged it." Ace grinned. "After all that complaining about the engraving?" "Exactly." Yukari laughed. Mai began the documentation. High-resolution photographs. Dimensions. Surface condition. The position of the object within the recess. The surrounding masonry. The relation between the recess and the funerary chamber. Every detail mattered. The goblet was not simply a valuable object. Its location was part of its history. Removing it without preserving that information would destroy evidence they could never recover. Ace watched Mai work. Then looked toward Seras. "How's it feel?" Seras considered. "Finding it?" "Yeah." The Vampire Queen looked toward the recess. For a moment, she seemed unsure. Then she smiled faintly. "Strange." Ace nodded. "Good strange?" Seras thought about it. "Ask me again later." Ace studied her. Then nodded. "Fair enough." --- The next half hour was devoted to careful examination. Mai used non-contact imaging to assess the goblet's surface and the condition of the metal. Shammy documented the surrounding stonework. Ace inspected the possible route for transporting the artifact safely. Yukari helped with the lighting and records. Seras remained nearby. Occasionally, Mai asked her questions. Did she remember the goblet's dimensions? Was the bowl always slightly asymmetrical? Had the base possessed the same decorative pattern? Seras answered what she could. And admitted what she couldn't remember. She never pretended to know more than she did. At one point, Mai looked up. "There's another detail." Seras approached. "What?" Mai enlarged a photograph of the base. A small indentation interrupted the outer rim. Seras studied it. Then began laughing. Ace looked toward her. "What?" Seras shook her head. "He dropped it." Silence. Then Ace stared. "WHAT?" Seras laughed harder. "Not the whole thing. He knocked it off a table." Yukari smiled. "Alucard?" "Yes." Shammy looked delighted. "And he admitted it?" Seras grinned. "Eventually." Ace began laughing. "Oh, this is magnificent." Mai examined the indentation. "That could be consistent with an impact." Seras nodded. "He was furious." "With himself?" Yukari asked. Seras smiled. "With the table." Ace nearly doubled over. "OF COURSE HE WAS!" Even Mai laughed. For several minutes, the solemn burial chamber contained the thoroughly inappropriate sound of five women laughing about Dracula losing an argument with furniture. Eventually, the laughter faded. Mai completed the preliminary condition report. "The metal appears structurally sound, but the old repair may be vulnerable. We'll need proper conservation support before moving it." Ace nodded. "And the authorization?" "Rogue has the documentation. I'm sending her the discovery report now." Mai transmitted the relevant records through the secured channel. A moment later, the acknowledgment appeared. The artifact had been located. Its identity was supported by physical characteristics and Seras's recognition. Its recovery would proceed only after the custody arrangements were confirmed. Ace looked toward the goblet. "So we found it." Mai smiled. "Yes." "Actually found it." "Yes." "No more possibly?" Mai considered. Then smiled. "We have found a goblet that Seras positively identifies as Alucard's personal possession, in a burial chamber associated with Vlad III." Ace sighed. "Darling." "What?" "Just say yes." Mai laughed. "Yes." Shammy leaned against Ace. Yukari smiled. Seras looked toward the recess. For a long moment, she said nothing. Then she whispered: "Yes." With the discovery documented, the group turned its attention to the chamber itself. Mai examined the remaining inscriptions. Shammy continued surveying the architecture. Ace checked the return route. Yukari approached the central platform. Seras stood nearby. The stone structure was empty. Its surface had once been carefully worked. Now it was covered in dust. Yukari studied it. "Do you think he was ever actually buried here?" Seras considered. "I don't know." "Did he ever tell you?" Seras smiled faintly. "He told me several different stories." Yukari laughed softly. "Of course." "Some were obviously jokes." "And the others?" Seras looked toward the platform. "I'm not entirely sure." The kitsune nodded. For a while, they stood quietly. Then Seras spoke again. "He used to laugh about people searching for his grave." Yukari looked toward her. "Yes." "He said they were looking for the wrong thing." "What did he mean?" Seras shook her head. "I never asked." A pause. Then she smiled sadly. "I wish I had." Ace returned from checking the passage. "Route's still good." Mai nodded. "Excellent." "The monitoring sensors show no movement." "Good." Shammy finished the final set of photographs. Yukari looked toward the entrance. "Then we can leave the chamber undisturbed until the recovery arrangements are confirmed." Mai nodded. "That's the plan." Seras looked toward the goblet. For a moment, she seemed almost reluctant to leave it. Ace noticed. "Hey." Seras turned. "Yes?" "We found it." Seras nodded. "I know." "And we're not going to lose it." A faint smile. "I know." Ace stepped closer. "Then maybe we can enjoy the fact that this ridiculous expedition actually worked." Seras laughed softly. "You're right." Ace grinned. "Please repeat that." Seras raised an eyebrow. "What?" "The part where I'm right." Mai sighed. Shammy laughed. Yukari smiled. Seras considered. Then gave Ace a perfectly innocent look. "I don't recall saying anything of the sort." Ace threw her hands into the air. "OH, COME ON!" The chamber filled with laughter again. But as the others finished their work, Seras returned to the central platform. She stood beside it. Not touching. Not kneeling. Simply looking. The old stone was cold. Its surface was worn. There were no flowers. No memorial candles. No evidence that anyone had visited the place in centuries. The goblet remained in its recess behind her. An ordinary object. A personal possession. Something he had held. Something he had damaged. Something he had complained about. She could remember the weight of his voice. The way he laughed. The infuriating arrogance. The occasional unexpected kindness. The terrible things he had done. And the person she had become because she had known him. Seras looked toward the empty platform. For a moment, she imagined him standing beside it. Laughing at the absurdity of his own tomb. *Honestly, police girl. Did you expect me to stay buried?* The remembered voice was so clear that her breath caught. She closed her eyes. The memory faded. Only silence remained. When she opened them again, the chamber was unchanged. Stone. Dust. An empty platform. And a goblet. Yukari approached quietly. She stopped beside her. For a while, neither spoke. Then Seras looked toward the kitsune. "We found it." Yukari smiled gently. "Yes." Seras looked back toward the old stone. "After all this time." Her voice was barely above a whisper. Yukari rested a hand lightly against hers. Seras accepted it. For a long moment, she remained silent. Then she said something she had not expected to say. "I thought finding it would make me happy." Yukari looked at her. "And?" Seras swallowed. "I am happy." A pause. "That's the problem." Yukari waited. Seras looked toward the goblet. Then toward the empty platform. Her expression changed. The first unmistakable signs of grief appeared beneath the queen's familiar composure. Not panic. Not a loss of control. Only sorrow. Old sorrow. The kind that could remain quiet for years until some small, ordinary thing brought it suddenly back into the light. Seras took a slow breath. Yukari gently squeezed her hand. "Seras?" The Vampire Queen looked at her. For a moment, she tried to smile. Then she looked away. "I think..." She stopped. Swallowed. And whispered: "I think I need a moment." Yukari stepped closer. "Of course." Behind them, Ace glanced toward Mai. Mai quietly lowered her tablet. Shammy looked toward the two women beside the empty tomb. Nobody hurried. Nobody asked for explanations. The goblet had been found. The mystery of its location was solved. But something far older, far more personal, had only just begun to surface. And in the stillness of Vlad Țepeș's original burial vault, Seras Victoria finally allowed herself to stop pretending that the past was merely history. --- ## Chapter 9 — The Queen's Tears For a long moment, nobody moved. The burial chamber remained silent. Five women stood beneath centuries of stone, surrounded by the remnants of a history that had outlived nearly everyone who had participated in it. The goblet rested in its narrow recess. The central stone platform stood empty. And Seras Victoria was staring at a place where a man had once been intended to lie. A man who had subsequently spent centuries making a mockery of death. Yukari stood beside her. Close enough to offer comfort. Not so close that Seras would feel crowded. The Vampire Queen looked toward the platform. Then toward the goblet. Then back again. "I thought..." She stopped. Her voice had become very quiet. Yukari waited. Seras gave a small, almost embarrassed laugh. "I thought I'd be pleased." "You are pleased," Yukari said gently. "Yes." Seras swallowed. "That's the ridiculous part." She looked toward the recess. "We found it. After all these centuries, we actually found the bloody thing." Yukari smiled faintly. "Yes." "And he would have loved this." "Would he?" "Oh, God, yes." Seras laughed. A genuine laugh, though it didn't last. "He would have stood here making absolutely insufferable remarks about the fact that people were still searching for his belongings." Yukari chuckled. "That does sound like him." "And he'd have complained about the condition of the goblet." "Naturally." "And the staircase." "Most certainly." Seras smiled. Then the smile disappeared. She looked toward the empty stone platform. "But he isn't here." Yukari said nothing. Seras stared at the old stone. "And I don't know where he is." Near the entrance, Mai quietly deactivated the nonessential recording equipment. The chamber's environmental and structural monitors remained active. Everything else could wait. Ace noticed. She moved beside Mai and looked toward Seras. For once, she didn't have a joke ready. Shammy joined them. "Should we give them some privacy?" she whispered. Mai nodded. "Let's check the outer passage." Ace glanced toward the two women beside the platform. Then back at her lovers. "Yeah." They moved toward the entrance. Not leaving Seras alone. Simply giving her enough space to decide how much of herself she wanted to reveal. Before stepping through the arch, Ace paused. "Seras?" The Vampire Queen turned slightly. "Yes?" Ace's voice was unusually gentle. "We're right outside." Seras looked at her. Then smiled faintly. "I know." Ace nodded. "Good." The Triad withdrew into the adjoining chamber. Yukari remained. Seras continued staring at the platform. For a while, she seemed unable to look away. Then she spoke. "Do you know what the worst part is?" Yukari shook her head. "No." "I never believed he could really disappear." The kitsune listened. "I knew he could leave. He'd done that before. He could vanish for days, weeks, longer, and return as though he'd merely stepped out for a drink." Seras laughed softly. "Sometimes he actually had." Yukari smiled. "But this time is different," she said. Seras nodded. "This time there's nothing." Her fingers tightened slightly around Yukari's hand. "No message. No explanation. No ridiculous note telling me to stop worrying." A pause. "No laughter from the doorway when I finally get angry enough to shout at him." She looked down. "Nothing." Yukari let the silence settle. Seras continued. "At first I was furious." "At him?" "Of course." A bitter little laugh escaped her. "Who else?" She shook her head. "He leaves, I inherit his responsibilities, and suddenly half the vampire community expects me to know what I'm doing." Yukari smiled faintly. "You seem to have managed rather well." "I have." There was no false modesty in the answer. Seras Victoria knew what she had accomplished. She had become the Vampire Queen. She had earned that position. She had established her authority and maintained it. Her community respected her. Her enemies knew better than to underestimate her. None of those achievements had been accidental. "But I wanted him to see it," she whispered. Yukari looked toward her. Seras's expression had changed. "I wanted him to know." A pause. "Not because I needed his approval." "I understand." "But because..." Her voice faltered. She tried again. "Because I wanted to tell him." Yukari gently turned toward her. "Tell him what?" Seras looked up. For a moment, she seemed almost surprised by the question. Then her expression softened. "That I did it." The words were barely audible. "That I became everything he said I could become." Yukari remained silent. Seras looked toward the old platform. "He used to tell me I was stronger than I believed." A faint smile appeared. "Usually while calling me an idiot." Yukari chuckled. "An unusual teaching method." "God, he was terrible at encouragement." Seras laughed. Then her voice became quieter. "But he believed in me." Yukari nodded. "Yes." "Even when I didn't." For a long moment, Seras stood motionless. Then she whispered: "And I never got to tell him he was right." The first tear appeared without warning. A small, dark-red line traced its way down Seras's pale cheek. She seemed not to notice. Yukari did. But she didn't react with alarm. She understood what she was seeing. Vampire tears. Blood. A natural expression of grief for someone like Seras. Not an injury. Not a sign of failing control. Simply sorrow finding its way into the world. Seras looked toward the goblet. "He knew, you know." Yukari waited. "He knew what I was becoming." "Yes." "He was just too much of an arrogant bastard to tell me properly." Her voice trembled. Another dark tear followed the first. Seras closed her eyes. For a moment, she seemed to be trying to understand why the pain had become so sharp. Then she laughed quietly. "Oh, this is stupid." Yukari shook her head. "No." "I'm standing in an old crypt crying over a man who isn't even buried here." "Yes." "And he would laugh at me." "Perhaps." Seras looked toward her. Yukari's expression remained gentle. "But that doesn't make your grief stupid." The Vampire Queen stared at her. For a long moment, she said nothing. Then her face crumpled. Just slightly. Enough. "Oh, Yukari." The kitsune opened her arms. "Come here." Seras stepped forward. And let herself be held. There was nothing ceremonial about the embrace. No royal etiquette. No elaborate declaration of loyalty. No attempt to transform the moment into something grander than it was. Yukari simply wrapped her arms around her friend. Seras buried her face against her shoulder. And began to cry. Not loudly. Not dramatically. At first, only small, uneven breaths disturbed the silence. Then a quiet sob escaped her. Another followed. Blood tears traced dark lines down her cheeks. Yukari held her gently. One hand rested against Seras's back. The other moved slowly through her pale hair. "It's all right," she whispered. Seras shook her head. "I know." A fragile laugh escaped her between tears. "I know it is." Yukari smiled faintly. "Then you don't need to explain anything." Seras held her a little tighter. For several minutes, that was enough. In the outer chamber, Ace sat on a low stone block. Mai stood beside the environmental monitor. Shammy leaned against a section of stable masonry. Nobody spoke. They could hear occasional fragments of conversation from the burial vault. Then silence. Then Seras crying. Ace lowered her eyes. "Fuck." Mai looked toward her. Ace shook her head. "That's rough." Shammy nodded. "Yes." For a moment, the three women simply listened to the quiet sounds beyond the arch. Mai checked the structural readings. Everything remained stable. She dimmed the display. Ace looked toward the entrance. "I keep thinking about how she was joking with us yesterday." Shammy smiled sadly. "She was enjoying herself." "I know." Ace sighed. "And now..." Mai gently took her hand. "Both things can be true." Ace looked toward her. Mai continued. "She can enjoy being here with us and still find the memories painful." Ace nodded slowly. "Yeah." Shammy approached. "She's not alone." Ace looked at her. "No." Shammy smiled. "And she knows that." The three women remained where they were. Giving their friend time. Inside the burial chamber, Seras eventually lifted her head. Her cheeks were stained with blood. Yukari loosened her embrace but didn't step away. Seras looked embarrassed. "Oh, God." Yukari smiled. "What?" "Look at me." "I am." "I'm a bloody mess." "Rather literally." Seras stared. Then began laughing. A wonderfully inappropriate laugh that echoed through the old crypt. "YOU TERRIBLE WOMAN." Yukari smiled innocently. "You did say it." Seras laughed harder. Then another tear slipped down her cheek. She wiped it away with the back of her hand. "Goddammit." Yukari produced a clean handkerchief. Seras looked at it. Then at her. "Do you always carry those?" "Frequently." "Why?" Yukari smiled. "Because one never knows when someone might need one." Seras accepted it. She gently wiped her face. The cloth absorbed the dark-red tears. For a moment, she studied it. Then looked toward Yukari. "Sorry." Yukari raised an eyebrow. "For what?" "The handkerchief." "Seras." "Yes?" "It's a piece of cloth." Seras laughed. "Fair point." "And I have others." "Of course you do." They moved to a low stone ledge along the chamber wall. It had been checked earlier and was structurally sound. Seras sat. Yukari sat beside her. The empty platform remained in front of them. For a while, neither spoke. Then Seras looked toward the goblet. "Do you know why that thing bothers me so much?" Yukari shook her head. "Tell me." "Because it's ordinary." Yukari followed her gaze. The tarnished vessel stood quietly in its recess. "Yes." "It's just a goblet." "Yes." "He drank from it." "Apparently." "He complained about the engraving." Yukari smiled. "And the table." Seras laughed softly. "Yes." She looked toward the object. "And somehow it survived." Yukari listened. "Six centuries of wars, changing rulers, collapsing buildings, people dying, kingdoms disappearing..." Seras paused. "And there it is." The goblet remained where it had been found. Small. Tarnished. Unimpressive to anyone who didn't understand its history. Seras's expression tightened. "And I can't even ask him whether he remembers dropping it." Yukari said nothing. Seras looked down. "I want to ask him stupid things." The admission seemed to surprise her. She laughed faintly. "Not important things. Not grand philosophical questions about immortality or death." "What things?" Seras looked toward the goblet. "Whether he actually liked the damned thing." Yukari smiled. "Understandable." "Whether he remembered the man who repaired it." "Yes." "Whether he really thought that staircase was badly designed or merely enjoyed complaining." Yukari laughed softly. Seras looked toward her. "And whether he'd ever learned how to apologize for breaking furniture." That earned a genuine laugh. Seras joined her. Then became quiet again. "I miss those conversations." Yukari gently took her hand. "I know." After a while, Seras leaned back against the stone. Her expression was thoughtful. "Helena remembers him differently." Yukari nodded. "She knew him long before you." "Yes." Seras looked toward the ceiling. "Sometimes she'll tell me something about him, and I barely recognize the person she's describing." "That must be strange." "It is." She smiled faintly. "She remembers a different century. Different habits. Different people." "And you remember the man he became later." "Exactly." Seras looked toward the empty platform. "I used to think that meant one of us must have misunderstood him." Yukari considered. "And now?" "Now I'm not so sure." The kitsune smiled gently. "People change." "Even vampires?" "Especially those who live long enough." Seras laughed softly. "That's almost reassuring." Yukari turned toward her. "Helena loves you." Seras smiled immediately. "Yes." "And you love her." "Very much." "Then you have someone who understands part of this history in a way few others can." Seras nodded. "I know." Yukari continued. "And she doesn't need you to be the same person you were when Alucard knew you." The Vampire Queen looked toward her. For a moment, the thought seemed to settle somewhere deep. Then she smiled. "No." A pause. "She certainly doesn't." Seras looked down at her hands. There were faint traces of blood where she had wiped away her tears. She examined them for a moment. Then laughed quietly. "Imagine Helena's expression if she could see me." Yukari smiled. "What do you think she'd do?" "Probably tell me I was being ridiculous." "Would she?" Seras considered. Then shook her head. "No." Her expression softened. "She'd hold me." Yukari nodded. "Yes." "And ask whether I wanted to talk." "Yes." "And if I didn't..." Seras smiled. "She'd stay anyway." Yukari squeezed her hand. "Then she's a very wise woman." Seras laughed. "Don't tell her that. She's already insufferable." A few minutes later, Seras looked toward the arch. "Do you think the others are getting bored?" Yukari smiled. "Unlikely." "Why?" "Mai has an archaeological site to study." Seras laughed. "True." "Shammy is perfectly capable of enjoying a quiet moment." "Also true." "And Ace..." Yukari paused. Seras looked interested. "What about Ace?" The kitsune smiled. "She's probably inventing increasingly creative insults for the staircase." Seras burst out laughing. "Oh, God." "Shall we find out?" Seras considered. Then nodded. "Yes." But before standing, she turned toward Yukari. "One thing." "Of course." Seras looked at her carefully. "Thank you." Yukari smiled. "You've already thanked me." "I know." "Several times." "I know." Yukari gently squeezed her hand. "Then you can stop counting." Seras laughed softly. Then leaned forward and kissed her friend's cheek. "You're wonderful." Yukari smiled. "So I've been told." They found the Triad exactly where they had left them. More or less. Mai was examining a section of the outer chamber's masonry. Shammy was reviewing the equipment inventory. And Ace was staring at the old staircase. Seras stopped. Then began laughing. Yukari looked delighted. "I told you." Ace turned. "What?" Seras pointed toward the stairs. "Are you seriously still angry with the architecture?" Ace folded her arms. "That staircase is an insult to engineering." Mai sighed. "Darling." "What?" "It has survived several centuries." "By being too stubborn to collapse." Shammy laughed. Seras shook her head. "Oh, Alucard would have loved you." Ace grinned. "I keep hearing that." "He'd probably have thrown you down the stairs." Ace considered. "Sounds like a fair fight." Mai closed her eyes. "Please don't challenge a missing vampire to a fight in his own crypt." Yukari smiled. "An excellent precaution." The laughter came easily. And for Seras, it felt wonderful. Ace's smile softened when she looked properly at Seras. The evidence of her tears was still visible. Not much. Only a faint reddish trace near one eye. But enough. Ace said nothing about it. Instead, she stepped closer. "Doing okay?" Seras considered. Then nodded. "Better." Ace smiled. "Good." A pause. Then Seras looked toward the others. "I'm sorry I kept you waiting." Mai shook her head. "You didn't." Shammy smiled. "We weren't in a hurry." Ace shrugged. "Besides, Mai found another interesting wall." Mai looked toward her. "It is an interesting wall." Seras laughed. "Of course it is." Then Shammy stepped forward. "May I?" Seras looked slightly surprised. Then smiled. "Of course." Shammy embraced her. Warmly. Without ceremony. Seras returned the embrace. For a moment, neither spoke. Then Shammy said quietly: "You don't have to carry everything by yourself." Seras held her a little tighter. "I know." Shammy smiled. "Good." When they separated, Seras looked around at the three women. Then at Yukari. Her expression became quietly affectionate. "You're all very inconvenient." Ace grinned. "Professionally." Mai laughed. Seras shook her head. "And I wouldn't change a thing." --- The practical work resumed gradually. Not immediately. Not as though Seras's grief had been an interruption that needed to be forgotten. They simply returned to what they had come to do. Mai reviewed the artifact documentation. The goblet remained in its original recess. Its condition had been recorded. The surrounding chamber had been mapped. Its provenance was considerably stronger than anything available before the expedition. The remaining issue was formal recovery authorization. Mai checked her agent. "Rogue has acknowledged the documentation." Ace looked toward her. "And?" "She's coordinating the final clearance." "How long?" "Unknown." Ace sighed. "Wonderful." Mai smiled. "We're not moving a fifteenth-century artifact out of a historical site without resolving the legal and conservation requirements." Ace nodded. "I know." Seras looked toward the goblet. "Good." Mai turned. "Good?" Seras smiled faintly. "He waited this long." Ace grinned. "Another day won't kill him?" The words escaped before she considered them. For a fraction of a second, the chamber became quiet. Ace winced. "Fuck. Sorry." Seras looked at her. Then laughed. Not bitterly. Not painfully. A genuine laugh. "Oh, Ace." Ace looked relieved. "Too soon?" Seras grinned. "About six centuries too late." Shammy burst out laughing. Yukari covered her mouth. Mai shook her head. And suddenly the old crypt seemed almost cheerful. While Mai and Shammy completed the final documentation, Ace accompanied Seras to the central platform. Yukari remained nearby. For a while, the two women looked at the empty stone structure. Then Ace spoke. "Can I ask you something?" Seras nodded. "Of course." "Was he always like that?" Seras raised an eyebrow. "Like what?" "An arrogant bastard." The Vampire Queen smiled. "Almost always." Ace nodded. "Thought so." Seras laughed. Then looked toward the platform. "He was many things." Ace waited. "Brilliant. Cruel. Funny. Terrifying. Occasionally kind." A pause. "And absolutely impossible." Ace smiled faintly. "Sounds complicated." "He was." Seras looked toward her. "Sometimes I hated him." Ace nodded. "I can imagine." "Sometimes I wanted to strangle him." "Also understandable." "And sometimes..." She stopped. Ace waited. Seras looked toward the old stone. "Sometimes I just wanted him to be proud of me." Ace's expression softened. For a moment, she seemed unsure what to say. Then she shrugged. "Well." Seras looked toward her. Ace continued. "I didn't know him." "No." "And I'm probably the last person anyone should ask for an opinion about parental approval." Seras smiled faintly. "But?" Ace looked directly at her. "But I know you." The Vampire Queen went still. Ace continued. "You're running an entire vampire community in Night City. You've got people who trust you, people who love you, and people who'd be absolutely fucking terrified to cross you." Seras smiled. "True." "And you manage all that without turning into an insufferable tyrant." A pause. "Most days." Seras laughed. Ace grinned. "So whether he'd be proud or not..." She shrugged. "I think you've done pretty damn well." Seras stared at her. Then smiled. A slow, genuine smile. "Thank you, Ace." Ace nodded. "You're welcome." They stood quietly for another moment. Then Seras looked toward the platform. "You know, he'd probably have insulted you." Ace grinned. "Naturally." "Then laughed." "Probably." "And then challenged you to prove yourself." Ace considered. "Would he have survived?" Seras turned toward her. For a moment, the two women simply stared at each other. Then Seras began laughing. "Oh, you arrogant little shit." Ace smiled sweetly. "Learned from the best." Yukari, listening nearby, sighed. "Two of them really would have been unbearable." Seras laughed harder. Ace looked offended. "Only two?" Yukari smiled. "At least." By early afternoon, the expedition's work in the burial chamber was complete. The goblet remained undisturbed pending formal authorization and the necessary preservation arrangements. Mai had recorded every accessible architectural feature. Shammy had completed the environmental documentation. Ace had confirmed the safest route back to the surface. Yukari had helped examine the surviving inscriptions. And Seras had contributed something no historical archive could have provided. Recognition. Not infallible knowledge. Not proof that every local legend was true. But the memories of someone who had personally known the man whose name appeared above the entrance. The chamber's significance was no longer merely theoretical. It had a history. And that history had touched someone standing inside it. Before leaving, Seras asked for one final moment alone beside the platform. Not completely alone. Yukari remained near the entrance. The others waited in the adjoining chamber. Seras approached the old stone. She stood quietly. The tears had stopped. Her face was calm. Her grief remained. But it no longer felt quite so impossible to bear. She looked toward the empty platform. Then smiled faintly. "Well." A pause. "We found your bloody cup." The chamber remained silent. Seras laughed softly. "You'd hate the condition." She glanced toward the recess. "And you'd complain about the repair." Another small laugh. "And the stairs." Her smile faded. For a long moment, she looked toward the old stone. Then she spoke again. Very quietly. "I wish you were here." The words hung in the still air. There was no answer. No supernatural sign. No sudden movement. Only silence. Seras nodded to herself. "I know." She took a slow breath. Then continued. "I've done rather well, you know." Her smile returned. A little uncertain. A little sad. "But you probably knew that." She looked toward the platform. "And Helena..." A softer smile. "Helena makes me very happy." For a moment, her expression became almost peaceful. "I think you'd like that." Then she laughed. "Or you'd say something absolutely intolerable and I'd have to threaten you." The silence remained. Seras lowered her eyes. One final blood tear slipped down her cheek. She wiped it away. Then looked up. "Wherever you are, you magnificent bastard..." Her voice was gentle. "...I hope you're all right." At the entrance, Yukari waited. Seras turned toward her. For a moment, the two women simply looked at each other. Then the kitsune smiled. "Ready?" Seras looked back once more. At the platform. At the goblet. At the quiet chamber. Then she nodded. "Yes." Yukari offered her hand. Seras took it. And together, they left the burial vault. The climb back to the surface was uneventful. Ace led the way. Mai monitored the old foundations. Shammy helped guide the equipment through the narrow passages. Yukari remained beside Seras. At the top of the staircase, the Vampire Queen paused. She looked back toward the darkness. Then up toward the sunlight filtering through the entrance. For a moment, she seemed caught between two different centuries. The past below. The present above. Then Ace's voice came from outside. "SERAS!" The Vampire Queen looked up. "What?" "THE STAIRS ARE STILL FUCKING TERRIBLE!" Seras burst out laughing. The sound echoed down the ancient passage. Yukari smiled. And together, they emerged into daylight. Outside, the ruined castle looked exactly as it had before. Broken walls. Fallen stones. Trees growing through ancient masonry. Sunlight moving slowly across the courtyard. Nothing had changed. Yet everything felt a little different. Seras stood in the middle of the ruins. She looked toward the mountains. Then closed her eyes. The air was cool. The wind smelled of trees and distant rain. For a moment, she remembered Alucard talking about the morning light in the mountains. How the valley sometimes turned gold. How beautiful it could be before men found reasons to kill one another. Seras opened her eyes. The valley stretched below. Green. Quiet. Alive. She smiled. "Well." Yukari stepped beside her. "Yes?" "He was right about one thing." "Only one?" Seras laughed. "The view." Yukari looked toward the mountains. Then smiled. "Yes." A pause. "It's beautiful." Seras nodded. "Very." The others joined them. Mai checked the route. Shammy secured the equipment. Ace looked toward the valley. Then toward Seras. "Ready to head back?" Seras considered. "Yes." Ace smiled. "Good." A moment passed. Then she added: "And tonight we're having a proper dinner." Mai laughed. "We had a proper dinner yesterday." "That was a preliminary dinner." Shammy smiled. "Of course." "Tonight we celebrate." Yukari raised an eyebrow. "The artifact hasn't actually been recovered yet." Ace considered. "Then we're celebrating finding it." Seras laughed. "An important distinction." "Exactly." Mai sighed. "Fine." Ace grinned. "Excellent." Then Seras looked toward her friends. All four of them. The woman who had led them through the ruins. The woman who had reconstructed the history. The ancient elemental whose warmth seemed capable of making even a stone chamber feel less lonely. And the kitsune who had held her while she cried. For a moment, Seras simply looked at them. Then she smiled. "Thank you." Ace raised an eyebrow. "For what?" Seras considered. Then shook her head. "Everything." Shammy smiled. Mai stepped closer. Yukari gently squeezed her hand. Ace grinned. "You're welcome." A pause. Then: "But if you're going to get sentimental, at least wait until we're somewhere with coffee." Seras laughed. "Goddammit, Ace." "Professionally." They began the descent toward the valley. The ruined castle slowly disappeared behind the trees. The old road remained difficult. The stream still needed crossing. The equipment still needed carrying. And the goblet remained safely in its ancient resting place until the formal recovery arrangements could be completed. But the journey no longer felt the same. Seras had come to Wallachia carrying memories she had never quite known how to face. Now she had stood in the burial chamber. Seen the goblet. Remembered the man who had owned it. And cried. Not because she was weak. Not because her authority had failed. Not because her vampiric nature had overwhelmed her. Simply because she had loved someone who was no longer there. And because even after centuries, that could still hurt. Yukari walked beside her. Their hands brushed occasionally. Neither woman felt the need to fill every silence. Behind them, Ace was arguing with Mai about the relative merits of hiking boots. Shammy was laughing. The forest smelled of leaves and earth. And somewhere far below, the stream continued flowing between its ancient banks. Seras listened. Then smiled. For the first time since arriving in Wallachia, she was not thinking about what she might find in the castle. She was thinking about going home. About Helena. About Night City. About the people waiting for her. And about the four extraordinary women currently accompanying her down a very inconvenient mountain. A small laugh escaped her. Yukari looked toward her. "What?" Seras shook her head. "Nothing." "Nothing?" "Just thinking." "About?" Seras looked toward the trees. Then smiled. "How much Alucard would have complained about this road." Yukari laughed. "Oh, undoubtedly." Seras nodded. "And how much Ace is going to complain about it." From farther down the slope came an indignant shout. "I HEARD THAT!" Seras burst out laughing. And for a moment, the mountains of Wallachia echoed with something other than the legends of an ancient prince. They echoed with the laughter of his successor. The Vampire Queen of Night City. Seras Victoria. Who had finally allowed herself to mourn. And who, for the first time in a very long while, was beginning to understand that remembering the past did not mean she had to remain inside it. --- ## Chapter 10 — Leaving Wallachia Ace discovered that finding Dracula's goblet was considerably easier than getting permission to take it home. This struck her as a serious flaw in the international artifact-retrieval business. "It's a cup," she informed Mai. Mai didn't look up from her tablet. "A historically significant funerary artifact." "A very old cup." "Associated with Vlad III." "A very old, very expensive cup." "Which is why the documentation matters." Ace sighed. They were sitting at the same breakfast table where the expedition had begun several mornings earlier. Outside, the Romanian countryside was enjoying another perfectly ordinary morning. Inside, Mai was working through a collection of permits, provenance records and conservation reports. Ace was considering declaring war on paperwork. Shammy watched them both with considerable amusement. "Love, you knew we couldn't simply put it in your luggage." Ace looked offended. "I never suggested that." Mai raised an eyebrow. "You asked whether the goblet would fit inside your emergency coffee case." "For transportation purposes." "Darling." "What?" "You also suggested wrapping it in socks." Seras began laughing. Yukari lowered her teacup. "Clean socks, I hope." Ace stared at her. "Of course clean socks!" "Then clearly every possible precaution has been considered." Shammy covered her mouth. Mai closed her eyes. Seras laughed harder. Ace looked around the table. "I am trying to run a professional expedition." "You're doing wonderfully," Yukari assured her. "Thank you." "Especially the socks." "YUKARI!" The goblet had remained in the burial chamber for two additional days. Mai had refused to remove it until the necessary arrangements were complete. Collector's payment might have been extravagant, but it did not grant him ownership of Romanian history by divine right. Rogue understood that perfectly well. Her latest message was characteristically brief. **Recovery authorized under the agreed custody arrangement. Local heritage representatives have acknowledged the discovery. Conservation specialist arriving tomorrow. Documentation attached. Do not improvise.** Ace had read the message twice. Then sent a reply. **You wound me.** Rogue's response had arrived almost immediately. **Good**. Seras had found the exchange delightful. Mai had found it entirely predictable. Shammy had simply smiled. The message had arrived the previous afternoon. With the paperwork resolved and the conservation specialist due at the lower staging point that morning, the expedition was finally ready to recover the object they had travelled so far to find. Mai closed her tablet. "Everything is confirmed." Ace looked up. "Everything?" "Yes." "Actually everything?" "Yes, darling." "No last-minute archaeological committee?" "No." "No emergency meeting of the International Association of Extremely Important Cups?" Mai smiled. "None scheduled." Ace raised both hands. "FINALLY!" Seras leaned toward Yukari. "Do you think she'll survive the next Collector assignment?" Yukari considered. "That depends." "On what?" "Whether it involves another cup." Seras nearly spilled her tea. Their final journey to the castle was different from the earlier visits. The route was familiar now. They knew where the modern road ended, where the abandoned track began, and which sections of the hillside required particular caution. Ace no longer complained about the hiking boots. Mai noticed. Naturally. "Comfortable?" Ace looked toward her. "What?" "The boots." "Fine." "Good." A pause. Then Mai smiled. "I'm glad you like them." Ace narrowed her eyes. "You're enjoying this." "Immensely." Shammy laughed. Seras glanced toward Yukari. "How long do you think she'll keep reminding Ace?" "Several years, at least." Ace turned. "YOU TWO ARE NOT HELPING!" Yukari smiled. "We weren't trying to." The laughter followed them into the trees. The journey itself remained uneventful. Their locally arranged conservation specialist, accompanied by the necessary heritage representative, had joined them at the lower staging area. The two professionals were competent, practical and gratifyingly uninterested in supernatural speculation. They were, however, extremely interested in the goblet. Mai approved. Ace considered that a substantial improvement over people who were interested in killing them. The old castle stood beneath a pale sky. Its broken walls looked exactly as they had on the previous visit. No sudden transformation. No mysterious lights. No ancient presence gathering beneath the stones. Just a ruined building slowly surrendering to the mountains. Seras stopped at the old gatehouse. Yukari noticed. "Would you like a moment?" Seras looked toward the entrance. Then smiled. "No." She considered her answer. "Actually, yes. But not for the reason you think." Yukari waited. Seras looked toward the courtyard. "I wanted to remember it like this." "Like what?" "Quiet." She smiled faintly. "The first time I saw it, everything felt so terribly loud." Yukari nodded. "The memories?" "Yes." Seras looked toward the broken walls. "Now it's just an old castle." A pause. "An important old castle. But still." Yukari smiled. "That sounds like progress." Seras laughed softly. "I suppose it does." Then she looked toward the original entrance. "And the gate is still too narrow." Yukari chuckled. "Some things never change." The descent into the lower chambers proceeded without difficulty. Mai supervised the route. Ace checked the stable sections. Shammy helped with the equipment. Yukari and Seras followed. The visiting professionals examined the structure with obvious interest, recording the condition of the passage and documenting the archaeological context. At the bottom of the staircase, Ace paused. She looked down at the steps. Then toward Seras. "You know something?" Seras raised an eyebrow. "What?" "I've changed my mind." "About?" "The stairs." Seras looked interested. "Oh?" Ace folded her arms. "They're worse than I originally thought." Seras burst out laughing. "Goddammit, Ace!" "Seriously. Whoever designed these should have been forced to use them every day." Seras grinned. "Perhaps they were." "Then it was a punishment." Shammy laughed. Mai shook her head. Yukari smiled. "An architectural legacy that continues to inspire strong feelings." Ace pointed at her. "Exactly." The burial chamber was unchanged. The central platform remained empty. The old inscriptions waited patiently in the light of their equipment. And the goblet still stood in its narrow recess. For a moment, Seras simply looked at it. The object seemed smaller than she remembered. She found that unexpectedly amusing. After all the anticipation, all the searching, all the grief, the entire expedition had come down to a single tarnished drinking vessel. A thing that had once sat on a table. A thing Alucard had held in his hand. A thing he had apparently managed to drop. Seras smiled. Yukari noticed. "Something amusing?" "The table." Yukari looked toward the goblet. Then laughed. "Of course." Seras shook her head. "Six centuries, and I'm still laughing about him blaming a table for his own clumsiness." "That is a rather wonderful thing to remember." Seras looked at her. Then nodded. "Yes." For once, the memory did not hurt quite as sharply. The recovery itself was almost disappointingly uneventful. Ace, who had privately expected the goblet to make one final attempt at becoming a problem, found that the conservation specialist was considerably more demanding than any supernatural guardian could have been. Nobody touched the vessel until the final photographic record was complete. Every visible surface was documented. The fragile repair beneath the bowl received particular attention. The specialist examined the base, the rim and the surviving engraving before approving the lifting procedure. Mai assisted with the records. Shammy monitored the surrounding environment. Ace remained available to help with the transport equipment. Yukari watched the process with quiet appreciation. Seras stood a little farther back. The conservator finally looked up. "Ready." Mai nodded. "Proceed." A pair of carefully positioned supports steadied the vessel. The specialist lifted it from the recess. Slowly. Without twisting the old stem. Without putting pressure on the repaired section. For the first time in centuries, the goblet left its shelf. Nothing happened. No thunder. No earthquake. No supernatural protest. Ace waited a full three seconds. Then looked toward Mai. "That's it?" Mai smiled. "That's it." "Seriously?" "Yes." Ace glanced toward the ceiling. "Well, that's almost insulting." Shammy laughed. Seras looked delighted. "What were you expecting?" Ace considered. "I don't know. A dramatic musical sting?" Yukari nodded thoughtfully. "Perhaps a choir." "Exactly!" Seras laughed. "Oh, for God's sake." The goblet was placed inside a purpose-built conservation cradle, secured without placing stress on its stem or rim. A protective transport case enclosed the cradle, with monitoring equipment to record changes in its environment. Mai checked the seals. The specialist approved the arrangement. The heritage representative signed the final recovery record. And there it was. The object that Collector had been seeking was finally in their custody. Ace stared at the case. Then looked toward her lovers. "Ladies." Mai smiled. "Yes?" "We actually did it." Shammy approached and embraced her. "We did, love." Seras looked toward the sealed case. Then smiled. "Yes." Her voice was quiet. "You did." Before leaving, Mai requested one final inspection of the burial chamber. Not because they expected another discovery. Because the excavation records needed to reflect exactly how the site had been left. The recess was photographed again. The surrounding surfaces were checked. No supporting masonry had been disturbed. No unnecessary material had been removed. The chamber remained intact. Ace watched Mai finish the documentation. "Happy?" Mai nodded. "Yes." "Everything properly recorded?" "Everything." "Every stone?" "Every relevant stone." Ace grinned. "Good." Shammy looked around the chamber. "Will anyone continue investigating the site?" "The local heritage authorities have the complete survey. Further archaeological work is their decision." Seras looked toward the empty platform. For a moment, she seemed thoughtful. Then she smiled faintly. "Alucard would probably complain." Ace looked interested. "About what?" "Other people poking around his old grave." Yukari chuckled. "Wasn't he rather fond of doing exactly that?" Seras laughed. "He was." "Then perhaps he has no grounds for complaint." "Oh, that never stopped him." When the others began moving toward the passage, Seras remained beside the central platform. Yukari noticed, but did not interrupt. The Vampire Queen looked toward the empty stone. A few days earlier, the sight had overwhelmed her. Now she could look at it without feeling that the centuries were collapsing around her. The grief remained. She suspected it always would. But it had changed. Or perhaps she had. Seras rested her hands at her sides. "Well," she murmured. A faint smile. "We're taking your goblet." The chamber remained silent. "Don't worry. Collector will look after it." She considered. "Probably better than you did." A quiet laugh escaped her. Then she looked toward the carved inscription. For a moment, she remembered Alucard's voice. His arrogance. His laughter. The way he had made the impossible sound entirely ordinary. She smiled. "I'll tell Helena about the stairs." Another small laugh. "She'll enjoy that." Seras stood quietly for a few more seconds. Then her expression softened. "Goodbye, Alucard." She knew perfectly well that the man she remembered was not lying beneath the stone. That wasn't the point. She was saying goodbye to the place. To the expectation that she might somehow find an answer here. And perhaps to the idea that loving someone meant she had to remain forever trapped in the moment of losing them. She took a slow breath. Then turned toward the entrance. Yukari was waiting. Of course she was. Seras smiled. "Ready." The kitsune offered her hand. "Let's go." The return to the surface was uneventful. The conservation case required careful handling through the narrow passages, but the team had planned the route in advance. At the staircase, Ace looked toward the case. Then toward Mai. "Don't say it." Mai raised an eyebrow. "Say what?" "Anything about my emergency socks." Mai smiled sweetly. "I wasn't going to." Shammy laughed. Yukari looked toward the case. "Although they might have been useful." Ace stared. Seras grinned. "An excellent secondary packing material." "SERAS!" The Vampire Queen burst out laughing. For several moments, the ancient stairwell echoed with thoroughly inappropriate amusement. Then they resumed their climb. Slowly. Carefully. And without damaging the goblet. When they finally emerged into daylight, Seras stopped. The ruined courtyard stretched before her. Broken walls. Fallen stones. Trees growing where people had once lived. And beyond them, the mountains. The same mountains Alucard had described. The same valley he had remembered. The same landscape that had endured long after the buildings and armies associated with him had disappeared. Yukari stood beside her. For a while, neither spoke. Then Seras smiled. "You know something?" Yukari looked toward her. "What?" "I think I understand why he kept talking about this place." "The castle?" Seras shook her head. "The country." She gestured toward the mountains. "The hills. The forests. The valleys." Yukari nodded. "Yes." Seras smiled faintly. "He always complained about the roads." "Apparently with good reason." "And the weather." "Also understandable." "And the people." Yukari chuckled. "Less surprising." Seras laughed. Then looked toward the distant ridges. "But he remembered it." The kitsune waited. "Even after everything he'd become. Even after all the centuries." Seras's expression softened. "He remembered where he came from." Yukari smiled. "And now you've seen it." Seras nodded. "Yes." A pause. "And I'm glad." By the time they reached the vehicle, the afternoon had begun turning toward evening. The conservation case was secured in the transport compartment. Mai checked the environmental readings. Everything remained stable. The local specialists completed their records, confirmed the handover conditions, and departed with copies of the documentation. The five women were finally alone again. Ace leaned against the vehicle. "Well." Mai smiled. "Yes?" "We're done." "With the castle, yes." "Excellent." Shammy looked toward the mountains. "It was a beautiful expedition." Yukari nodded. "Very." Seras stood quietly beside them. For a moment, she seemed almost reluctant to leave. Ace noticed. "Hey." Seras turned. "Yes?" "One more look?" The Vampire Queen considered. Then smiled. "Perhaps." Ace nodded toward the hillside. "We've got time." Seras looked at her. "Really?" "Sure." "No schedule pressure today." Shammy nodded. "And the goblet is secure." Yukari stepped beside Seras. "Shall we?" Seras looked toward the mountains. Then shook her head. "No." A pause. "I think I've seen enough." Ace studied her. Then smiled. "Okay." Seras looked toward the vehicle. "Let's go home." The journey back to their accommodation was considerably quieter than the outward trip. Not solemn. Not unhappy. Simply comfortable. Ace drove for part of the route, while Mai reviewed the final records. Shammy watched the changing countryside. Yukari and Seras sat together in the rear seats. For a long time, the two women said very little. Then Seras looked toward the kitsune. "Can I ask you something?" Yukari smiled. "Of course." "Did you ever go back to that village?" Yukari considered. "The one I told you about?" "Yes." "The garden?" Seras nodded. Yukari looked toward the passing trees. "Once." Seras waited. "Many years later." "And?" The kitsune smiled faintly. "The flower was gone." Seras's expression softened. "Oh." "But there were others." "Others?" "Wildflowers. Growing all across the old foundation." A small smile. "Nobody had planted them. They were simply there." Seras considered. "Did that make you feel better?" Yukari thought for a moment. "Not immediately." "No?" "No." She looked toward Seras. "But I sat among them for a while." "And?" "And remembered how terrible my friend's gardening had been." Seras laughed softly. Yukari smiled. "Then I laughed." The Vampire Queen looked at her. For a long moment, she said nothing. Then she smiled. "I think I understand." Yukari gently squeezed her hand. "I thought you might." Dinner that evening was a genuine celebration. Not because they had defeated a monster. Not because an ancient evil had been destroyed. Not because Night City had narrowly escaped another catastrophe. They had simply completed a difficult expedition. And done it properly. Ace considered this a refreshing change. She announced as much after the first course. "I propose a toast." Mai looked suspicious. "To what?" "An entirely successful mission without anyone trying to murder us." Shammy smiled. "An excellent toast." Yukari raised her glass. "To peaceful expeditions." Seras grinned. "And terrible staircases." Ace pointed toward her. "YES!" Mai laughed. "To historical preservation." Ace sighed. "Darling." "What?" "That sounds like a conference." "A very successful conference." Yukari nodded. "With excellent food." Seras laughed. Ace considered. "Fine. I'll allow it." Their glasses met. For a while, the conversation remained light. They discussed the castle. The old roads. The local people who had helped them. The extraordinary amount of paperwork. And the fact that Ace had apparently developed a professional relationship with a pair of hiking boots. Mai mentioned this last detail. Ace protested. Shammy laughed. Yukari offered to write a commemorative poem. Seras suggested having the boots framed. Ace threatened to leave all four of them in Romania. Nobody believed her. Later, when dinner was finished, the five women returned to their accommodation. Mai checked the goblet's transport case one final time. The environmental readings were normal. The seals remained intact. The documentation was complete. The next scheduled transport would take them back to Night City. Collector would receive the artifact on the next Friday the thirteenth. Not a day earlier. No exceptions. Ace examined the calendar. Then sighed. "Of course." Mai looked toward her. "What?" "We're going to have to store Dracula's goblet until Friday the thirteenth." "Yes." "At home." "In secure custody." Ace grinned. "Brenda is going to lose her fucking mind." Shammy began laughing. Mai smiled. "Probably." Yukari looked delighted. "She'll want to see it." "Absolutely." Seras laughed. "And she'll ask whether it's cursed." Ace nodded. "Naturally." A pause. Then she grinned. "And I'll tell her it makes the owner complain about furniture." Seras nearly doubled over. "YOU WOULDN'T!" Ace smiled sweetly. "Watch me." That night, Seras stood beside the window of her room. The mountains were dark. The village had settled into sleep. Somewhere nearby, a dog barked. Then silence returned. Seras looked toward the distant hills. For several days, she had been walking through memories she had never expected to confront so directly. She had seen the castle. Entered its ruined rooms. Found the old burial chamber. Held back nothing when the grief finally became too much. And now she was leaving. Not because the memories had disappeared. Not because she had stopped missing Alucard. But because she had remembered something else. There was still a life waiting for her. A city. A community. Responsibilities she had accepted and learned to carry. Friends who trusted her. And Helena. Seras smiled at the thought. Helena would want to hear about everything. The castle. The goblet. The absurdly narrow staircase. The broken engraving. The damaged base. And probably the part where Seras had cried in an ancient crypt while an equally ancient kitsune held her. She would understand. She always did. Seras looked toward the mountains one last time. Then whispered: "Goodbye." This time, the word didn't hurt quite so much. A soft knock came at the door. "Seras?" Yukari. The Vampire Queen smiled. "Come in." The kitsune entered carrying two cups of tea. Seras laughed. "Of course." Yukari raised an eyebrow. "What?" "You really do solve everything with tea." "Not everything." "Almost everything." Yukari smiled. "An admirable ambition." She handed Seras a cup. They settled beside the window. For a while, neither spoke. Then Seras looked toward her. "I wanted to thank you." "Again?" "Yes." "Very well." Seras laughed softly. "You're making this difficult." "Only a little." The Vampire Queen considered. Then her expression softened. "I don't think I could have done this without you." Yukari looked at her. "Perhaps you could have." Seras shook her head. "Not like this." The kitsune listened. "I might have gone to the castle. Found the goblet. Come home." Seras looked toward the mountains. "And pretended it was just another assignment." Yukari nodded. "Perhaps." "But you didn't let me do that." A pause. "You didn't force me to talk. You didn't tell me how I should feel." Yukari smiled gently. "No." "You just..." Seras stopped. Then laughed quietly. "You stayed." Yukari reached across and took her hand. "Of course." Seras looked at her. For a moment, the Vampire Queen's expression became unexpectedly vulnerable. Then she smiled. "Thank you." Yukari squeezed her hand. "You're welcome, my friend." They sat together for a while longer. The tea gradually cooled. The mountains remained dark. Eventually, Seras looked toward Yukari. "Can I tell you something?" "Of course." "I think Helena would like you." Yukari smiled. "I hope so." Seras laughed. "She'd probably accuse you of being terribly wise." "An unfortunate reputation." "And then she'd spend the evening trying to discover how many embarrassing stories you know about me." Yukari considered. "Several." Seras stared. "Yukari." "Yes?" "Don't." The kitsune smiled sweetly. "Of course." Seras narrowed her eyes. "That was not reassuring." "Wasn't it?" "Not remotely." Yukari laughed. Seras joined her. For a while, the room was filled with the easy laughter of two women who had discovered something precious during an otherwise ordinary expedition. Not romance. Not obligation. Friendship. The kind that did not require either woman to become someone else. Seras could remain the Vampire Queen. Yukari could remain the ancient, occasionally infuriating kitsune. And both could simply enjoy knowing that somewhere in the world was another person who understood what it meant to remember too much. --- The following morning, the five women completed their final preparations. The goblet's transport case was inspected. The documentation was verified. The remaining equipment was packed. Mai confirmed the travel arrangements. Ace inspected the vehicle. Shammy made sure nobody had forgotten anything. Yukari finished her tea. Seras stood outside for a moment, looking toward the mountains. Then she turned. "Ready." Ace grinned. "Excellent." Mai smiled. "Everything's arranged." Shammy opened her arms. "One last group hug before we leave?" Ace laughed. "Love, we've barely finished breakfast." Shammy smiled. "And?" Ace considered. "Fair point." The five women embraced. Warmly. Without ceremony. For several moments, none of them felt any particular need to move. Then Seras laughed. "You're all absolutely ridiculous." "Professionally." As they drove away, the old countryside gradually disappeared behind them. Villages gave way to larger roads. The mountains receded. And the landscape that had held so much of Alucard's history became a memory once more. Seras watched through the window. For the first time since arriving in Wallachia, she felt no need to keep looking back. Yukari noticed. "All right?" Seras smiled. "Yes." A pause. Then: "Actually yes." Yukari returned the smile. "Good." From the front seat came Ace's voice. "SO." Mai sighed. "What now?" "When we get home, who's telling Brenda we found Dracula's wineglass?" Seras closed her eyes. "Oh, for God's sake." "I vote you." "Absolutely not." "You're the historical expert." "I'm the Vampire Queen." "Exactly. Very credible witness." Yukari smiled. "I believe Brenda will have several questions." Shammy nodded. "Many questions." Mai laughed. Seras looked toward the four women travelling with her. Then shook her head. "Fine." Ace raised an eyebrow. "Fine?" "I'll tell her." "Excellent." Seras smiled sweetly. "But I'm telling her about your emergency socks first." Silence. Then Shammy began laughing. Mai covered her mouth. Yukari looked delighted. Ace stared at Seras. "YOU WOULDN'T." The Vampire Queen displayed her fangs. "Watch me." The vehicle filled with laughter. And for the first time in a very long while, Seras Victoria left Wallachia without feeling that she was abandoning something important. She had come looking for an artifact. She had found a piece of her past. And she was going home with something she hadn't expected. Not an answer to Alucard's disappearance. Not freedom from grief. Something simpler. The knowledge that she could remember him, miss him, laugh about him, and still look forward to tomorrow. Behind them, the mountains of Wallachia stood beneath the morning sky. The old castle continued its slow surrender to time. The burial chamber remained quiet. And somewhere aboard a vehicle heading toward the airport, five extraordinary women were arguing about socks. Alucard would have been insufferably amused. --- ## Chapter 11 — The Collector's Calendar Night City welcomed them home with rain. Not particularly dramatic rain. Not the kind accompanied by thunder, rolling black clouds, or the sudden appearance of something with too many eyes. Just ordinary Night City rain, falling steadily across neon signs, traffic barriers, and the windshield of their transport. Ace watched a driver attempt to force his vehicle into a lane that clearly did not have room for him. The resulting exchange of horns was spectacular. She smiled. "Home." Mai looked toward the intersection. "Someone's about to cause an accident." "Exactly." Shammy laughed softly. Yukari watched a police drone disappear between two buildings. "Such a peaceful city." Seras shook her head. "I'd almost forgotten how much I missed it." Ace turned toward her. "See? That's the correct attitude." "Toward traffic accidents?" "Toward Night City." Seras looked out at the rain. A moment passed. Then she smiled. "Yes." For once, Ace didn't add anything. The quiet answer seemed to deserve a little space. Their return flight had been uneventful. The goblet had travelled in its specially prepared conservation case, accompanied by the appropriate documentation and monitored throughout the journey. Mai had reviewed the environmental records twice before the aircraft landed. The seals remained intact. No unusual changes had occurred. The delicate repair beneath the bowl had suffered no additional stress. Six centuries of history had survived another journey. Ace considered that encouraging. She also considered it deeply unfair that an old drinking vessel had required more travel documentation than she did. Mai had explained why. Several times. Ace remained unconvinced. Now, with their luggage and equipment secured, the five women were finally approaching the point where their shared expedition would end. Seras had arranged to return directly to her own residence. The Triad would take custody of the goblet until the next Friday the thirteenth. Yukari would return to the safehouse with them. And Helena would finally have her beloved home. They stopped at Seras's arranged drop-off point. The rain had eased to a fine mist. Seras collected her travel case while Mai performed the final custody check. "Everything's in order," Mai said. Seras glanced toward the sealed conservation container. "Good." "The goblet stays with us until the delivery." "Naturally." Ace folded her arms. "Whenever Collector's precious calendar decides we're allowed to give it to him." Seras grinned. "He does seem rather particular." "Rather?" Shammy smiled. "Love, we've known about the rule for quite some time." "That doesn't make it less ridiculous." Yukari tilted her head. "Some traditions are useful." Ace stared at her. "Don't you start quoting him." The kitsune smiled. "I merely appreciate consistency." Seras laughed. Then she looked toward the four women. For a moment, her expression softened. "Well." Ace raised an eyebrow. "Well?" "I suppose this is where I thank you." Mai smiled. "You already have." "Several times," Shammy added. Yukari nodded. "Quite a few." Seras folded her arms. "You're all being terribly difficult." Ace grinned. "Professionally." The Vampire Queen laughed. Then she stepped forward and embraced Shammy. Mai followed. Ace received a particularly firm hug accompanied by a whispered warning not to let Brenda near the goblet. Finally, Seras turned toward Yukari. The two women looked at each other. For a moment, neither spoke. Then Seras opened her arms. Yukari stepped into the embrace. "Thank you," Seras whispered. Yukari smiled against her shoulder. "You're welcome, my friend." Seras held her a little longer. Then stepped back. "I'll see you soon." "Of course." The Vampire Queen looked toward the transport one final time. "Take good care of it." Mai nodded. "We will." Seras smiled. "Good." Then she turned and headed home. --- Helena was waiting in their private sitting room. A book rested in her lap. She looked up when the door opened. For one brief moment, the centuries between them seemed utterly irrelevant. "Seras." The Vampire Queen smiled. "Hello, love." Helena put the book aside. Seras crossed the room and went straight into her arms. There was no ceremony. No queen receiving the respect of an older vampire who had voluntarily sworn loyalty to her. No formal hierarchy. Just two women who loved one another. Helena kissed her. Then held her close. "Welcome home." Seras closed her eyes. "God, I've missed you." "I missed you too." They remained together for a while. Helena didn't ask for an immediate report. She could feel the quiet exhaustion beneath Seras's familiar confidence. Not physical exhaustion. Something older. Something that deserved patience. Eventually, Seras lifted her head. "We found it." Helena smiled. "I thought you might." "The goblet." "His goblet." Seras nodded. "The broken engraving was exactly where I remembered." Helena's eyebrows rose. "Really?" "And the dent in the base." Helena stared at her. Then closed her eyes. "Oh, good heavens." Seras began laughing. "The table." "The bloody table?" "The very same." Helena shook her head. "Six centuries, and that ridiculous incident is still being remembered." Seras grinned. "He'd be furious." "Absolutely furious." They laughed together. It felt wonderful. --- Later, after Seras had changed into something comfortable, they settled together on the couch. Helena rested one hand against her lover's cheek. "And the castle?" Seras became quiet. Helena waited. "It was smaller than I expected." "Old places often are." "Most of it was gone." Seras looked toward the window. "Collapsed walls. Trees growing through the foundations. Hardly anything left of the courtyard." Helena nodded. "He always made it sound rather grand." "Didn't he?" "Terribly." A faint smile appeared. Then Seras looked down. "We found the burial chamber." Helena's hand stilled. "Did you?" "Yes." A pause. "His tomb was empty, of course." "Naturally." Seras smiled faintly. Then the smile faded. "I cried." Helena's expression softened. Seras continued. "Rather a lot." She gave a small, embarrassed laugh. "Yukari held me while I made a complete mess of her shoulder." Helena gently cupped her face. "Oh, darling." For a moment, Seras looked away. Then Helena drew her closer. "I'm glad she was there." Seras nodded. "So am I." "Did it help?" The Vampire Queen considered. "Yes." She took her time. "Not immediately. And not in the way I expected." Helena waited. "I still miss him." "Of course you do." "But I think I can remember him without feeling that I'm losing him all over again." Helena kissed her forehead. "That sounds like something worth bringing home." Seras closed her eyes. "Yes." They remained together. No explanation was required. And when Seras finally fell asleep in Helena's arms, the mountains of Wallachia seemed very far away. --- At the Watson safehouse, the welcoming committee was considerably less restrained. Brenda appeared the moment Iris opened the secured upper entrance from inside. Her gaze travelled from Ace to Mai. Then Shammy. Then Yukari. Then the large, carefully protected container. She stared. "OH, YOU HAVE GOT TO BE KIDDING ME." Ace sighed. "Hello, Brenda." "YOU FOUND IT?" Mai smiled. "Yes." "The actual goblet?" "Yes." "Dracula's goblet?" Ace grinned. "His personal, historically significant, excessively expensive drinking cup." Brenda looked delighted. Iris emerged from the living room. "Welcome home." Shammy embraced her. "Thank you, dear." Iris looked toward the others. "Everyone all right?" Mai nodded. "Everyone." Yukari smiled. "And we had a lovely journey." Brenda was still staring at the case. "Can I see it?" Ace closed her eyes. "Here we go." The next twenty minutes were devoted to explaining why the conservation case would remain sealed. Brenda considered this deeply unfair. Mai remained patient. Mostly. "The goblet has a fragile historical repair," she explained. "I understand." "The case maintains controlled environmental conditions." "I understand." "And every unnecessary opening introduces additional risk." "I UNDERSTAND." Ace raised an eyebrow. "Then why do you keep asking?" "Because I want to see Dracula's fucking cup!" Yukari began laughing. Shammy smiled. Iris gently took Brenda's hand. "Sweetheart, perhaps the photographs?" Brenda stopped. Considered. Then looked toward Mai. "Photographs?" Mai smiled. "Excellent ones." Brenda brightened. "Why didn't you say so?" Ace threw both hands into the air. "OH, FOR FUCK'S SAKE!" The photographs proved extremely successful. Brenda examined the goblet. The engraving. The repair. The indentation in the base. Then she leaned back. "That's it?" Ace stared. "Excuse me?" "It's rather plain." Silence. Then Shammy began laughing. Yukari covered her mouth. Mai closed her eyes. Ace pointed triumphantly at Brenda. "THANK YOU!" Brenda frowned. "What?" "THAT'S EXACTLY WHAT I'VE BEEN SAYING!" Iris examined the image more carefully. "I think it's beautiful." Mai smiled. "So do I." Brenda considered. "Well, yes. In a historical sort of way." Ace sighed. "You're impossible." Then she brightened. "Oh, you'll love this." Brenda raised an eyebrow. "What?" "See that dent?" "Yes?" "Dracula dropped it." Brenda stared. "He WHAT?" Ace grinned. "And blamed the table." The room dissolved into laughter. Once the household had finally exhausted the immediate supply of Dracula jokes, Mai transferred the conservation case into secured storage. The process was routine. The environmental controls were activated. The monitoring system synchronized with Mai's agent. Access permissions were checked. And the artifact was left exactly as it had travelled. Sealed. Protected. Undisturbed. Ace stood beside the storage compartment. For a moment, she looked thoughtful. Then she turned toward Mai. "So." Mai smiled. "Yes?" "When?" "The next Friday the thirteenth." "I know that." "Then why are you asking?" "Because I was hoping he'd changed his mind." Mai laughed. "He hasn't." Ace sighed. "Of course he hasn't." Yukari stepped closer. "Would you like me to make a calendar?" Ace stared. "No." "A decorative one?" "No." "With a little drawing of the goblet?" "YUKARI." The kitsune smiled. "Very well." Shammy laughed. "Perhaps we should simply have dinner." Ace considered. "Now that's a sensible suggestion." The waiting period stretched across several ordinary weeks. The household gradually stopped treating the sealed case as a novelty, although Ace continued to behave as though consulting the calendar could make Friday arrive sooner. Rogue received the recovery report. The complete documentation was transmitted through the usual professional channels. Mai received a brief acknowledgment. **Artifact secured. Delivery rules unchanged.** Ace read it. Then looked toward Mai. "She really does enjoy being concise." Mai smiled. "Rogue?" "Yes." "She's very good at it." Ace considered. "Could we at least ask whether Collector is pleased?" Mai raised an eyebrow. "Why?" "Professional curiosity." "He's already received the recovery report." "And?" "And he's waiting for the appointed day." Ace stared. "That's it?" "That's it." Yukari looked up from her book. "Patience, beloved." Ace sighed. "I preferred Romania." Shammy laughed. --- Life continued around the waiting artifact. Iris went about her work. Brenda discovered that making jokes about the goblet was considerably more entertaining than trying to inspect it. Yukari returned to her usual comfortable routines. The Triad resumed their ordinary life together. And the goblet remained in storage. It did nothing. No mysterious noises. No unexplained lights. No dramatic changes in the weather. Not even a particularly offensive smell. Ace considered this almost disappointing. Then remembered the previous supernatural problems they had endured. And decided disappointment was preferable. Several evenings later, Mai found Ace looking at the calendar. Again. "Darling." Ace turned. "Yes?" "Checking the date?" "No." Mai raised an eyebrow. Ace sighed. "Fine. Yes." Shammy approached and wrapped her arms around Ace from behind. "Love." "Yes?" "The date will arrive." "I know." "Whether you check it or not." "I know." Shammy kissed her cheek. Ace smiled. Then looked toward Mai. "Do you ever wonder why he insists on it?" Mai considered. "Of course." "And?" "And I don't know." Ace looked surprised. "Really?" "Really." "Not even a theory?" "Several." Ace grinned. "Excellent." Mai shook her head. "But none supported by sufficient evidence." Ace sighed. "You're no fun." Mai smiled. "You love me." "Unfortunately." Shammy laughed. Yukari, watching from the couch, spoke without looking up. "Some traditions are useful." Ace turned. "THAT'S IT. I'M BANNING THAT SENTENCE." The evening before the appointed delivery, Rogue called. Mai accepted the connection. Rogue appeared in her familiar booth at Afterlife. "Everything ready?" Mai nodded. "Yes." "Case?" "Secure." "Documentation?" "Complete." "Transport?" "Arranged." "Good." Rogue looked toward Ace, who had appeared beside Mai. "What?" Ace smiled sweetly. "Nothing." "Don't." "I haven't said anything." "That's why I'm worried." Shammy laughed softly. Rogue ignored her. "Tomorrow. Bywater House. Standard arrangements." "The three of us." "Exactly." "Any special instructions?" "No." Ace looked disappointed. "None?" Rogue stared at her. "What were you hoping for?" "I don't know. A dress code? A ceremonial trumpet? Perhaps a small orchestra?" Rogue closed her eyes. "Just bring the fucking goblet." Ace grinned. "Understood." The connection ended. Mai laughed. Shammy smiled. Yukari looked toward the secured storage compartment. "Well." Ace turned. "What?" "One more sleep." Ace stared at her. Then began laughing despite herself. "Oh, you impossible fox." That night, the Triad settled into their shared bedroom. The house was quiet. Yukari had curled comfortably at the foot of the bed. Mai rested beside Ace. Shammy held them both. For a while, nobody spoke. Then Ace sighed. "Funny." Mai turned toward her. "What?" "We went to Romania for Collector." "Yes." "Found the goblet." "Yes." "And somehow that ended up being the least important part." "Seras." Ace nodded. "Yeah." Mai reached for her hand. "The expedition meant a great deal to her." Ace looked toward the ceiling. "Yukari was wonderful." Shammy nodded. "She was." From the foot of the bed came a quiet voice. "I can hear you." Ace smiled. "Good." Yukari opened one golden eye. For once, she didn't make a joke. "Seras is my friend." Ace looked toward her. "I know." The kitsune smiled. "And I was glad to be there." Shammy reached down and gently stroked one of her tails. Yukari closed her eye again. The room settled into comfortable silence. Then Ace spoke. "Tomorrow we finally deliver the thing." Mai smiled. "Tomorrow." Shammy kissed her. "Friday the thirteenth." Ace sighed contentedly. "At last." --- ## Chapter 12 — Friday the Thirteenth Ace woke before the alarm. That alone was sufficient to convince Mai that something extraordinary was happening. Her wife was lying between her and Shammy, staring at the ceiling with a delighted expression. Mai opened one eye. "Good morning." Ace turned. "Darling." "Yes?" "It's here." Mai considered. "What is?" Ace stared. "THE DAY." Shammy began laughing without opening her eyes. "Friday the thirteenth?" "YES." From the foot of the bed came a soft chuckle. Yukari lifted her head. "Congratulations, beloved." Ace pointed at her. "Not one word." The kitsune smiled. "I merely wished you a pleasant morning." "Suspicious." "Entirely sincere." Shammy kissed Ace's shoulder. "Coffee?" Ace considered. Then grinned. "Absolutely." Breakfast was unusually cheerful. Even Brenda seemed impressed by Ace's improved mood. "You're happy." Ace nodded. "Yes." "Because you're finally getting rid of the cup?" "Yes." Brenda considered. "That's a shame." Ace stopped. "What?" "I was getting rather fond of having Dracula's goblet in the house." Mai began laughing. Shammy smiled. Iris looked toward her wife. "Sweetheart." "What?" "You've never actually touched it." "That's not the point." Ace stared. "You're telling me you want to keep a priceless historical artifact in our storage room because you find it entertaining?" Brenda thought for a moment. "Yes." Yukari nodded solemnly. "A perfectly understandable attachment." Ace threw both hands into the air. "I AM SURROUNDED BY LUNATICS." Shammy kissed her cheek. "Beloved lunatics." Ace sighed. "Fine." After breakfast, the familiar ritual began. Ace dressed for Bywater House. No cover identity. No theatrical disguise. Nothing designed to impress a corporate audience. Just Ace. Mai chose her usual understated elegance. Shammy selected something comfortable and beautiful. The three women knew the routine. They had done this before. The specific artifact changed. The circumstances of its recovery changed. Sometimes the object was dangerous. Sometimes merely strange. Sometimes, as in this case, its greatest power was the ability to make someone remember. But the final journey was always the same. The Triad. The artifact. Bywater House. Friday the thirteenth. Mai opened the secured storage compartment. The conservation case sat exactly where it had been placed. Its monitoring lights showed normal conditions. She checked the seals. The environmental records. The transfer documentation. Then she looked toward Ace. "Ready?" Ace smiled. "Finally." Shammy approached. "Everything secure?" Mai nodded. "Yes." Ace lifted the case carefully. For once, she didn't make a joke about its weight. The object deserved proper handling. Besides, she had developed a grudging affection for the ridiculous thing. Not enough to keep it. Certainly not enough to spend another month storing it. But enough to appreciate why Collector wanted it. Brenda appeared in the doorway. "Leaving?" Ace nodded. "Yes." "Tell him I said hello." Ace raised an eyebrow. "You've never met him." "I know." "Then why?" Brenda grinned. "Politeness." Yukari smiled. "An admirable quality." Ace sighed. Iris embraced Mai and Shammy. Then Ace. "Have a lovely visit." "We will," Mai promised. Yukari remained behind with Iris and Brenda. She smiled as the Triad prepared to leave. "Enjoy the tea." Shammy laughed. "Of course." "And the coffee," Ace added. Yukari nodded. "Naturally." The three women descended to the secured entrance. Behind them, the upper door was closed from inside. Then they stepped out into Night City. Together. --- The drive to Bywater House was quiet. Ace sat beside Mai, with Shammy behind them and the protected artifact secured in its transport position. The city gradually changed around them. Crowded streets gave way to quieter roads. Neon became less frequent. The buildings seemed older. The trees taller. And eventually, the familiar approach appeared. Ace looked toward the road. "Well." Mai smiled. "Yes?" "Back again." Shammy looked through the window. "The gardens should be lovely." Ace grinned. "More importantly, the coffee should be excellent." Mai laughed. "Priorities." "Absolutely." Then Ace looked toward the case. For a moment, her expression softened. "Funny." Mai glanced at her. "What?" "How much history can fit into something so small." Shammy smiled. "Quite a lot, apparently." Ace nodded. "And how much it can mean to someone." Mai looked toward her. "Seras." "Yeah." A pause. Then Ace smiled. "I'm glad we went." Mai reached across and took her hand. "So am I." Bywater House appeared beyond the trees. The house looked familiar. Almost. Ace noticed the difference immediately. She leaned forward. "No." Mai followed her gaze. "What?" "The windows." "What about them?" "There were four on that side last time." Mai counted. Five. Shammy smiled. "Perhaps one was hidden by the tree." Ace stared. "That tree wasn't there." Mai considered. "The tree was there." "Not that tree." Shammy began laughing. Ace folded her arms. "I hate this house." Mai smiled. "No, you don't." Ace considered. "Fine." Then she grinned. "But I reserve the right to be suspicious of its architecture." --- The front door opened as they approached. Collector stood waiting. Immaculately dressed. Perfectly composed. His expression brightened when he saw them. "Good afternoon." Ace smiled. "Afternoon." "Mai. Shammy. Ace." He greeted them individually. Then his gaze moved toward the protected case. A small smile appeared. "Ah." Ace grinned. "Yes." Collector stepped aside. "Please. Come in." No ceremony. No guards. No inspection conducted by an army of security personnel. Just a courteous gentleman welcoming three familiar guests. And an artifact that had taken them halfway around the world. The drawing room was warm. Comfortable chairs stood around a low table. Tea had been prepared. Coffee was ready. A small plate of pastries rested beside the service. Ace looked toward it. Then toward Collector. He smiled. "I remember." "Of course you do." Mai settled into her usual seat. Shammy joined her. Ace placed the conservation case on the prepared table, then sat beside her lovers. Collector poured tea. Served coffee. Asked after their journey. He did not immediately open the case. That was part of what made the ritual feel different from an ordinary commercial transaction. The object mattered. But so did the people who had brought it. For a while, they discussed Romania. The mountain roads. The old villages. The archivist. The retired teacher. The ruined crossing. Collector listened with genuine interest. "And the castle?" Mai smiled. "Substantially more damaged than the historical illustrations suggested." "Unfortunate." "Most of the upper buildings have collapsed." "To be expected, I suppose." Shammy nodded. "The deeper foundations survived considerably better." Collector regarded her. "That is often the way." Ace took another sip of coffee. "And the stairs were fucking terrible." Collector smiled. "Indeed?" "Absolutely." Mai laughed. "That became a recurring theme." "Did it?" Shammy smiled. "Seras remembered that Alucard complained about the same staircase." Collector considered. "How reassuring." Ace stared. "Reassuring?" "That even a man of his reputation encountered ordinary architectural inconveniences." Ace burst out laughing. "Exactly!" Eventually, Mai opened the recovery documentation. The atmosphere changed slightly. Not becoming tense. Simply more formal. Collector set down his tea. Mai displayed the records. "Recovery location confirmed." He nodded. "Excellent." "Historical context documented." "Good." "Local authorization obtained, with the agreed custody conditions." "Very good." "The original burial chamber remains intact." Collector smiled faintly. "I'm pleased." Mai continued. The photographs showed the goblet in its recess. The surrounding inscriptions. The empty stone platform. The detailed surface condition. The repaired stem. The small indentation in the base. Collector examined each image carefully. He asked several questions. Precise ones. Nothing unnecessary. Mai answered. Ace supplied occasional observations. Shammy described the condition of the older masonry. Finally, Collector looked toward the photograph of the damaged base. "Ah." Ace smiled. "Yes." He examined the indentation. "An unfortunate accident?" "Apparently." Mai looked toward Ace. Ace grinned. "Seras said Alucard dropped it." Collector raised an eyebrow. "Did he?" "And blamed the table." For a moment, Collector regarded the photograph. Then his smile widened slightly. "How unfortunate for the table." Ace slapped her knee. "THAT'S EXACTLY WHAT I SAID!" Shammy began laughing. Mai shook her head. Collector seemed entirely pleased with himself. The formal transfer came next. Mai verified the environmental records one final time. The case was opened under the approved conditions. The conservation cradle remained in place. Collector approached. And for a long moment, he simply looked at the goblet. The tarnished silver. The delicate engraving. The narrow repair. The small dent. A thing of considerable age. And a rather ordinary shape. He did not touch it immediately. Instead, he studied the documentation again. Then the object. Then, very quietly, he said: "Wonderful." Ace smiled. Mai watched attentively. Shammy stood beside them. Collector examined the repaired stem. "An unusually personal detail." Mai nodded. "Seras remembered it clearly." "How fortunate." "She also recognized the damage to the base." Collector inclined his head. "That adds considerably to the provenance." He looked toward the Triad. "You have done excellent work." Ace grinned. "Thank you." Mai smiled. "We're pleased with the result." Shammy nodded. "And the journey was worthwhile." Collector regarded them for a moment. Then returned his attention to the goblet. The old gentleman seemed almost melancholy. Only for a moment. Then his familiar warmth returned. "Yes." A pause. "Very worthwhile." The acceptance was simple. Formal. Precise. Collector confirmed that the artifact matched the commission. The provenance was satisfactory. The preservation work had been properly documented. The transfer conditions had been fulfilled. He accepted the goblet. Mai completed the final record. Ace watched the confirmation appear on her agent. Then looked toward her lovers. "Well." "Well." Shammy gently squeezed Ace's hand. "Another one." Ace nodded. "Another one." Collector regarded them with quiet satisfaction. "My thanks." Ace grinned. "You're welcome." He inclined his head. "I appreciate the care you've taken." "It deserved care." Collector looked toward the goblet. "Indeed." The object was transferred into his custody without unnecessary handling. And that was that. Six centuries of history had reached Bywater House. On Friday the thirteenth. Exactly as required. A few minutes later, the payment confirmation arrived. Through Rogue's established arrangements. Ace checked the amount. Then blinked. She looked again. Mai leaned closer. Shammy smiled. Ace slowly turned toward Collector. "Sir." He raised an eyebrow. "Yes?" "You're completely insane." Mai closed her eyes. Shammy began laughing. Collector regarded Ace calmly. "About the compensation?" "Yes." "I trust it meets expectations." Ace stared. "Meets expectations?" Collector smiled. "Good." Mai examined the transaction. Everything matched the contract. Rogue's arrangements were complete. No complications. No unexpected conditions. No hidden fees. Ace leaned back. "Well." Collector looked toward her. "Yes?" "If you ever decide to buy an entire country, please give me a call." Mai sighed. "Darling." Collector considered. Then smiled. "I shall bear that in mind." Shammy laughed. With the formal business concluded, Collector invited them to remain for tea and coffee. The Triad accepted. Naturally. For a while, conversation drifted toward less practical subjects. History. Architecture. Old maps. The peculiar persistence of local legends. Collector showed considerable interest in the original burial chamber. But he did not ask to have its mystery explained away. He seemed content to know that the chamber existed, that its historical context had been documented, and that the goblet had been recovered without unnecessary destruction. Eventually, Mai mentioned Seras. "She came with us." Collector nodded. "So I understand." "The expedition meant a great deal to her." Collector set down his cup. "I imagine it did." Shammy smiled gently. "Yukari helped her through some difficult moments." "How fortunate that she had good company." Ace nodded. "Yeah." For a moment, the three women were quiet. Collector did not press. Instead, he said: "I hope Her Majesty found something of value in the journey." Mai considered. "Not exactly what she expected." Ace smiled faintly. "But yes." Collector nodded. "Then I am glad." The afternoon light moved slowly across the drawing room. Ace finished her coffee. Mai examined a small historical atlas Collector had placed on the table. Shammy looked toward the garden, where the trees were moving gently in a breeze. For a while, the room was comfortably silent. Then Collector spoke. "Mai." She looked up. "Yes?" "May I ask you something?" "Of course." "Did Her Majesty speak of her companion during the journey?" Mai considered. "Helena?" Collector nodded. "Yes." "She did." Shammy looked toward him with interest. Collector smiled. "I understand Lady Helena has a rather remarkable personal connection to Vlad Țepeș." Ace raised an eyebrow. "That's putting it mildly." Mai glanced toward her. Then back at Collector. "She knew him personally." "So I understand." Collector considered for a moment. Then looked toward the goblet's documentation. "That is rather interesting." Ace sighed. "There it is again." Collector turned toward her. "What?" "That word." He smiled. "Interesting?" "Yes." Collector considered. Then inclined his head. "Perhaps I use it too often." Mai laughed. Shammy smiled. Ace grinned. "You're in good company." Collector allowed the conversation to settle. Then he looked toward the Triad. "There is one further matter." Mai placed the atlas aside. "Yes?" Collector smiled gently. "Quite separate from our commission." Ace raised an eyebrow. "Another artifact?" "No." "Good." "Not for you to retrieve, at any rate." Ace narrowed her eyes. "That qualification was suspicious." Collector smiled. "Entirely understandable." Shammy laughed softly. Collector continued. "I possess a small number of historical objects associated with Vlad Țepeș. They are not part of the collection you have been helping me complete." Mai looked interested. "A separate collection?" "Precisely." Ace leaned forward. "And?" Collector glanced toward the photograph of the goblet. Then back toward Mai. "It occurred to me that Her Majesty might appreciate seeing them." For a moment, nobody spoke. Collector continued. "And perhaps Lady Helena as well." Shammy smiled. "That would mean a great deal to them." "I hope so." Mai studied him. "Would you like us to mention it?" Collector shook his head gently. "I have asked Rogue to convey the invitation at an appropriate time." Ace grinned. "Of course you have." Collector smiled. "She is a very capable intermediary." "That she is." "The visit would be entirely private," Collector continued. "No commission. No obligations. Merely an opportunity to examine a few objects with a particularly personal history." Mai nodded. "That sounds lovely." "I think Seras would be touched." Ace looked toward the photographs. Then toward Collector. "Helena might recognize things nobody else does." Collector regarded her with a quiet smile. "Quite possibly." A pause. "That would make the conversation rather interesting." Ace closed her eyes. Mai began laughing. Shammy covered her mouth. Collector's smile widened. Eventually, the Triad prepared to leave. The goblet remained behind. The contract was closed. The payment was complete. Collector accompanied them to the entrance. "Thank you again." Mai smiled. "Our pleasure." Shammy nodded. "Thank you for your hospitality." Collector inclined his head. "Always." Ace looked toward the old gentleman. Then grinned. "One question." Mai sighed. Collector smiled. "Of course." "Do you actually believe in Friday the thirteenth being lucky?" Collector considered. For a moment, he seemed genuinely amused. Then he replied: "Some traditions are useful." Ace stared. Mai began laughing. Shammy smiled. Collector opened the door. "Have a pleasant afternoon." Ace shook her head. "You're impossible." "How kind." Outside, the gardens were beautiful. The afternoon was quiet. The path toward the vehicle looked entirely ordinary. Ace stopped beside the car. Then looked back toward Bywater House. The front door appeared slightly farther to the left than she remembered. She considered mentioning it. Then decided against it. Some arguments were not worth having. Mai approached. "Everything all right?" Ace nodded. "Yeah." Shammy joined them. "Ready to go home?" Ace smiled. "Absolutely." For a moment, the three women stood together. The artifact was delivered. The Collector was satisfied. Their work was complete. And somewhere in Night City, Seras Victoria was about to receive an invitation that might lead her and Helena into another very old piece of history. Ace looked toward her lovers. "Well." Mai smiled. "Yes?" "That was a good one." Shammy nodded. "Very." Mai took Ace's hand. "Shall we?" Ace grinned. "Let's." They climbed into the vehicle. And left Bywater House behind. Three women. Together. Exactly as the tradition required. --- ## Chapter 13 — An Invitation from the Collector Rogue Amendiares was having a perfectly satisfactory afternoon. Three contracts had been closed. Two disputes had been resolved without gunfire. One particularly irritating mercenary had finally understood that arguing with the owner of Afterlife was not a promising career strategy. And Collector had received his artifact. That last item was especially satisfying. The Triad had completed another assignment. The payment had cleared. Nobody had died. Nobody had accidentally awakened an ancient horror. And, according to Mai's final report, the historical site had survived the expedition in substantially the same condition in which they had found it. Rogue considered that an excellent result. She was about to return to her other work when a message appeared on her private terminal. The sender required no introduction. Rogue opened it. Read the contents. Then leaned back. For several seconds, she simply stared at the screen. Finally, she smiled. "Of course." The message was brief. Courteous. Precisely worded. And entirely typical of the man who had sent it. **Collector wished to extend a private invitation to Her Majesty Seras Victoria and Lady Helena.** No commission. No artifact retrieval. No professional obligation. **Only an opportunity to visit Bywater House and examine a small collection of historical objects associated with Vlad Țepeș.** **At a mutually convenient time.** Rogue read the message again. Then shook her head. The man had just paid an obscene amount of money for Dracula's personal goblet. And now he wanted to invite two vampires with direct connections to its former owner over for tea. In Night City, that would ordinarily qualify as a spectacularly bad idea. With Collector, it was probably a perfectly pleasant afternoon. Probably. Rogue activated her secure communications. "Seras." The connection opened a moment later. "Rogue." "Got something for you." The Vampire Queen sounded amused. "Should I be concerned?" "Not unless you're afraid of antiques." A pause. Then Seras began laughing. "Oh, God." "Collector." "Of course." "Personal invitation. You and Helena." Another pause. Then Seras's voice became quieter. "Both of us?" "Both." Rogue looked at the message. "He has some things he thinks you might appreciate seeing." "Things?" "Vlad's things." Silence. Rogue waited. Finally, Seras spoke. "I see." "No pressure. No contract. He specifically said the invitation was entirely optional." Seras was quiet for another moment. Then she asked: "May I discuss it with Helena first?" Rogue raised an eyebrow. "That's rather the point of inviting both of you." Seras laughed softly. "Fair enough." "I'll forward the details." "Thank you, Rogue." "Don't thank me. I'm just delivering the message." "Naturally." Rogue ended the connection. Then looked toward the empty seat opposite her. For a moment, she considered the remarkable collection of people who had become part of her professional life. The Triad. An ancient kitsune. A Vampire Queen. Her considerably older vampire lover. And an eccentric gentleman whose house seemed to have a personal disagreement with conventional architecture. Rogue sighed. "Night fucking City." Then she returned to work. --- Helena was reading when Seras entered their sitting room. This was becoming a familiar pattern. Helena with a book. Seras with something unexpected to announce. On this particular afternoon, Helena was quite comfortable with the arrangement. Until she looked up. And saw Seras's expression. "Oh." Seras stopped. "What?" Helena closed her book. "Something happened." "Not exactly." "Then someone contacted you." Seras narrowed her eyes. "You're becoming terribly good at this." Helena smiled. "I've known you for quite some time, darling." Seras crossed the room. Then sat beside her. "Rogue called." "Professional trouble?" "No." "Vampire trouble?" "No." "Then what?" Seras considered. "Collector trouble." Helena blinked. Then laughed. "That sounds wonderfully specific." "It is." Seras handed her the invitation. Helena began reading. Her smile gradually disappeared. Not because the contents were unpleasant. Because she understood exactly what they meant. When she finished, she looked toward Seras. "Oh." Seras nodded. "Yes." Helena looked down at the invitation again. "Vlad's collection." "Apparently." "And he wants both of us to see it." "Yes." Helena slowly placed the message aside. For a long moment, she said nothing. Then she looked toward the window. "Well." Seras raised an eyebrow. "That's usually my line." Helena smiled faintly. "I believe I'm entitled to borrow it." Seras settled beside her. Neither woman spoke immediately. Outside, Night City continued its usual afternoon business. Traffic moved through the streets. Aircraft crossed between distant towers. Somewhere below, a security siren briefly announced the existence of a problem that neither woman was currently required to solve. Helena looked toward the invitation. "Did Rogue explain what he has?" "Not precisely." "Only that they're associated with Vlad?" Seras nodded. "And separate from his main collection." Helena considered. "Interesting." Seras groaned. "Oh, God." Helena turned. "What?" "That word." "What word?" "Interesting." Helena looked surprised. Then laughed. "Is there something wrong with it?" "Not normally." Seras leaned back. "But Ace has spent the better part of two weeks complaining that Mai uses it whenever she discovers something historical." Helena smiled. "And you?" "I've apparently started doing the same." "How unfortunate." "Terribly." Helena laughed. Then her gaze returned to the message. The humor softened. "Do you want to go?" Seras considered. "Yes." A pause. "I think so." Helena looked toward her. "That's not quite the same answer." "No." Seras sighed. "I want to see the collection." "But?" "But Wallachia was difficult." Helena nodded. "I know." "And I'm not entirely certain I want to spend another afternoon walking through his past." The older vampire listened without interrupting. Seras continued. "Especially not so soon." Helena gently took her hand. "Then we don't have to." Seras turned. "You wouldn't mind?" "Of course not." "But you knew him." "Yes." "Long before I did." "Yes." "And the objects might mean something to you." Helena smiled. "They might." Seras studied her. "You're not curious?" "Immensely." "Then why would you refuse?" Helena's expression softened. "Because my curiosity is not more important than your peace." For a moment, Seras said nothing. Then she leaned forward and kissed her. "You're impossible." Helena smiled. "I've been told." After a while, Seras picked up the invitation again. "Actually, I think I do want to go." Helena raised an eyebrow. "Are you certain?" "Not entirely." "That's allowed." Seras smiled. "Thank you." Helena squeezed her hand. "We don't need to decide today." "No." "And if we go, we can leave whenever we wish." Seras nodded. "Of course." Helena considered the message. "Collector does seem unusually considerate." "He is." "You like him?" Seras thought for a moment. "I respect him." "Not quite the same thing." "No." A small smile appeared. "But I think I like him too." Helena raised an eyebrow. "Why?" Seras considered. "He knows who I am." "Most people do." "Not like that." She looked toward Helena. "He knows what I am. He understands the vampire community. He knows who Alucard was." Helena nodded. "And?" "And he doesn't make a performance out of any of it." A pause. "He invited me to see some historical objects. That's all." Helena smiled faintly. "How refreshing." "Exactly." Seras leaned back. "And he makes excellent tea." Helena began laughing. "Oh, then obviously we must go." The invitation remained on the table. For several minutes, they discussed the practical possibilities. A private afternoon visit. No entourage. No unnecessary ceremony. No obligation to provide historical explanations merely because Collector possessed something interesting. Seras could attend as herself. Helena could accompany her. And if either woman found the experience uncomfortable, they could simply thank their host and leave. The simplicity appealed to them both. Eventually, Helena looked toward Seras. "May I ask something?" "Of course." "Did Collector mention exactly which period the objects come from?" Seras shook her head. "No." Helena's expression became thoughtful. "That could make quite a difference." "Because?" Helena looked toward the invitation. "Because I knew Dracula across a much longer part of his history than you did." Seras nodded. "I know." "But not every object associated with him would be familiar to me." "Naturally." Helena smiled faintly. "Some might predate my acquaintance with him. Others might belong to periods when we rarely saw one another." Seras considered. "And some might be things you remember." "Yes." A pause. "Quite vividly, perhaps." Seras studied her. For a moment, the weight of Helena's years seemed especially apparent. Not in her appearance. Not in her manner. But in the simple fact that entire centuries of remembered life existed behind her familiar smile. Seras reached for her hand. "Do you think it will hurt?" Helena considered. "Possibly." "That sounds familiar." Helena smiled. "Doesn't it?" They laughed softly. Then Helena continued. "But I don't think that makes the invitation a bad thing." "No?" "No." She looked toward Seras. "Sometimes an old object reminds us of something painful." A pause. "Sometimes it reminds us of something wonderful." Seras smiled faintly. "And sometimes both." "Exactly." Helena rose and crossed toward a small cabinet. Seras watched her. "What are you doing?" "Looking for something." "That sounds suspicious." Helena smiled. "Only slightly." She opened a drawer. Removed a small case. Then returned to the couch. Inside lay an old piece of jewelry. A simple metal ornament, carefully preserved. Nothing particularly extravagant. Its design was unfamiliar to Seras. Helena held it in her palm. "Do you remember this?" Seras leaned closer. "No." Helena smiled. "I didn't think you would." "Where did it come from?" "A very long time ago." Seras raised an eyebrow. "Darling." "Yes?" "That describes approximately everything you own." Helena laughed. "Fair point." She studied the ornament. "I kept this because it belonged to someone I cared about." Seras listened. "Someone who died long before I met Dracula." The Vampire Queen became quiet. Helena looked toward her. "I don't keep it because I want to return to that time." She gently turned the ornament between her fingers. "I keep it because the person mattered." Seras nodded slowly. "And remembering them matters too." "Yes." Helena closed the case. "Sometimes it makes me sad." She smiled. "Other times, I remember something ridiculous they said." Seras laughed softly. "The table." "Precisely." Helena put the case aside. "History isn't always a burden, my love." Seras considered. "No." A pause. "Sometimes it's a rather badly repaired goblet." Helena burst out laughing. They settled together again. Seras rested her head against Helena's shoulder. For a while, neither spoke. Then Helena looked down at her. "There's something else." Seras raised her head. "What?" Helena considered. "You know I followed you before we became lovers." Seras nodded. "Of course." "I chose that." "I know." Helena smiled gently. "Not because I was younger." Seras laughed. "Certainly not." "Not because I lacked experience." "Definitely not." "And not because I expected anything in return." Seras looked toward her. Helena continued. "I recognized you as my queen because I believed you deserved that position." The Vampire Queen became quiet. "And I still do." Seras smiled. "Thank you." Helena gently touched her cheek. "But this..." She indicated the invitation. "This is not something I want us to approach as queen and subject." Seras considered. "How do you want us to approach it?" Helena smiled. "As two women who loved the same infuriating man in different ways, at different times, and who now love each other." For a moment, Seras simply stared. Then she laughed softly. "That's rather beautifully put." Helena smiled. "I have my moments." Seras leaned closer. "And rather inconveniently romantic." "An unfortunate habit." Seras kissed her. "Keep it." The decision came later that evening. Not hurriedly. Not because Collector was waiting. They had eaten together. Talked about ordinary things. And spent a comfortable hour discussing everything except Vlad Țepeș. Eventually, Seras picked up the invitation again. Then looked toward Helena. "Let's go." Helena smiled. "Are you sure?" Seras nodded. "Yes." A pause. "Not tomorrow." "Of course." "Not immediately." "Naturally." Seras smiled. "But I'd like to see what he has." Helena considered. "Then I'd like to see it with you." The Vampire Queen leaned forward and kissed her. "Good." Helena smiled. "Good." Seras contacted Rogue the following morning. The fixer answered from her booth at Afterlife. "Seras." "Rogue." "Decision?" "Yes." Rogue waited. "We'd like to accept." "Both of you?" "Both." "Good." "At a later date, though. We haven't chosen one yet." "No problem." "Collector won't mind?" Rogue gave a dry laugh. "Seras, that man waits for Friday the thirteenth to receive things he's already paid for." The Vampire Queen began laughing. "Fair point." "Patience isn't an issue." "Apparently not." Rogue brought up the invitation details. "I'll pass along your acceptance. When you're ready to arrange the visit, we'll coordinate it." Seras nodded. "Thank you." "Anything else?" The Vampire Queen considered. "One thing." Rogue raised an eyebrow. "Yeah?" "Would you thank Collector for being considerate?" For a moment, Rogue was silent. Then she nodded. "Sure." "I appreciate it." Rogue regarded her for another moment. Then said: "Glad the trip went well." Seras looked slightly surprised. "Thank you." "That's all." The connection ended. Seras stared at the blank display. Then laughed softly. "Goddammit, Rogue." --- At Bywater House, the message arrived later that day. Collector was sitting in his study. A small stack of correspondence rested beside him. Beyond the window, the garden was bright with afternoon sunlight. He opened Rogue's message. Read it. Then smiled. Her Majesty Seras Victoria and Lady Helena had accepted his invitation in principle. A date would be arranged later. No urgency. No additional conditions. Collector considered the information. Then placed the message beside his writing materials. "Excellent." He returned to his correspondence. A few minutes passed. Then he paused. Looked toward a cabinet standing against the far wall. And smiled faintly. Several objects associated with Vlad Țepeș rested within its carefully maintained compartments. Not part of the twenty artifacts he was collecting. Not items awaiting retrieval. Simply pieces of history that had found their way into his keeping. Some were ordinary. Some were quite rare. And some possessed stories that their surviving records could only partly explain. Collector regarded the cabinet thoughtfully. Then he closed the correspondence. There was no reason to prepare a display yet. His guests had not selected a date. And he had no intention of rushing them. He rose, crossed to the window, and looked out at the garden. "How pleasant." A bird settled briefly on a branch. Somewhere in the house, a clock chimed. Another clock answered several seconds later. Neither appeared particularly concerned with the other's opinion. Collector smiled. "Quite." --- That evening, Ace was sitting between Mai and Shammy on the safehouse couch when Rogue's message arrived. It concerned the completed assignment. Nothing urgent. Only the final administrative confirmation. Mai read it. Then smiled. "Everything's closed." Ace raised an eyebrow. "Actually closed?" "Yes." "No further forms?" "No." "No additional archaeological reports?" "No." "No surprise invoice from a Romanian conservation specialist?" Mai laughed. "No." Ace leaned back. "Beautiful." Shammy kissed her cheek. "Now we can enjoy a quiet evening." Yukari, curled nearby in fox form, opened one golden eye. "That would be lovely." Ace looked toward her. Then smiled. "Seras called you?" Yukari nodded. "Earlier." "How is she?" "Very well." Mai looked interested. "Good." Shammy smiled. "And Helena?" "Also well." Ace nodded. "Excellent." Yukari stretched. Then added: "Apparently, Collector has invited them to examine his Vlad collection." Ace grinned. "We heard about that." Mai nodded. "He mentioned the invitation." "Have they decided?" "Yes." Ace looked toward her. "They're going?" Yukari nodded. "Eventually." Mai smiled. "Good." For a moment, the four women were quiet. Then Ace looked toward Yukari. "You know something?" The kitsune raised her head. "What?" "I think that trip was good for Seras." Yukari considered. "Yes." A pause. "Not easy." "No." "Not always pleasant." "Definitely not." Yukari smiled gently. "But good." Ace nodded. "Yeah." Shammy reached down and scratched behind the fox's ears. Yukari closed her eyes contentedly. Mai leaned against Ace. For a while, nobody spoke. Then Ace grinned. "One thing, though." Mai sighed. "What?" "If Collector has an entire collection of Dracula's belongings, I really hope he's got the original complaint book." Yukari opened one eye. "The what?" "The book where Dracula wrote down everything he hated about his castle." Shammy began laughing. Mai stared at her. "Darling." "What?" "That is not a historical document." Ace grinned. "It should be." Yukari considered. Then smiled. "Perhaps Helena could help reconstruct it." Ace pointed at her. "EXACTLY." Mai closed her eyes. Shammy laughed. From somewhere behind the couch came Brenda's voice. "WHAT'S THIS ABOUT DRACULA'S COMPLAINT BOOK?" Ace slowly looked toward the ceiling. "Oh, for fuck's sake." Yukari's tails began moving. Shammy buried her face against Ace's shoulder. Mai started laughing. And just like that, the quiet evening was over. --- Elsewhere in Night City, Seras stood beside Helena at their window. The city glittered below them. Helena rested an arm around her waist. For a while, they simply watched the lights. Then Seras spoke. "Do you think he'll have anything you recognize?" Helena considered. "Possibly." "Something from before I knew Alucard?" "Quite likely." Seras smiled faintly. "Would you tell me about it?" Helena turned toward her. "Of course." "Even if the memories are difficult?" Helena studied her. Then smiled gently. "Especially then." Seras leaned closer. Helena kissed her forehead. For a moment, the Vampire Queen looked toward the city again. Then she laughed softly. "What?" Helena asked. "Nothing." "Seras." The younger vampire smiled. "I was just thinking." "About?" "How strange all this is." Helena raised an eyebrow. "All what?" "Alucard disappears. I become queen. You choose to follow me." Helena nodded. "And later..." Seras turned toward her. "You fall in love with me." Helena smiled. "An excellent decision." Seras laughed. "Then I go to Wallachia with four rather extraordinary women, find his bloody goblet, cry in his old tomb, and come home." Helena listened. "And now," Seras continued, "a mysterious gentleman wants to show us some of his other possessions." Helena considered. Then nodded. "Yes." Seras laughed. "That's your entire reaction?" "What would you prefer?" "I don't know. Something profound." Helena smiled. She gently brushed a strand of pale hair away from Seras's face. "Very well." Seras waited. Helena leaned closer. "I think life is rather wonderful when it refuses to become predictable." The Vampire Queen stared at her. Then smiled. "That was good." "I try." Seras kissed her. And when they separated, Helena rested her forehead against hers. "Besides." Seras raised an eyebrow. "Yes?" "If Collector really has some of Vlad's belongings, I may finally be able to settle an argument we've been having for centuries." Seras went still. "What argument?" Helena smiled sweetly. "Oh, nothing important." "Helena." "Really." "HELENA." The older vampire began laughing. Seras stared at her. Then narrowed her eyes. "You're enjoying this." "Immensely." A pause. Seras smiled. "Fine." She slipped both arms around Helena. "But when we go, you're telling me everything." Helena kissed her. "Everything I remember, darling." "Good." And for the first time, the prospect of examining Alucard's past did not feel like approaching another grave. It felt like an afternoon she might genuinely enjoy. With the woman she loved. And perhaps a few stories that had been waiting centuries to be told. --- ## Epilogue — The Woman Behind the Crown The Vampire Queen of Night City was having an argument about curtains. Not treaties. Not territory. Not the complicated politics of a community whose members measured their lives in centuries rather than decades. Curtains. "Absolutely not," Seras declared. Helena looked up from the fabric samples. "Darling." "No." "You haven't even seen the other colors." "I've seen enough." Helena examined the dark burgundy material in her hand. "What's wrong with this one?" Seras folded her arms. "It looks like something Alucard would have chosen." Helena considered. Then smiled. "That's rather unfair." "Is it?" "Yes." Seras raised an eyebrow. Helena examined the material again. A pause. Then she sighed. "All right. Perhaps not." Seras grinned triumphantly. "Thank you." "He did have a fondness for dramatic interiors." "A fondness? Helena, the man could make an ordinary sitting room look like someone was about to be sacrificed in it." The older vampire began laughing. "That is a terrible exaggeration." "Is it?" Helena considered. Then laughed harder. "Perhaps not." Seras dropped onto the couch. "Honestly. Six centuries of civilization and apparently nobody has invented a color he wouldn't have turned into something threatening." Helena set the samples aside. "Then what would Your Majesty prefer?" Seras looked toward her. "Something cheerful." "Cheerful?" "Yes." Helena considered. "You're becoming terribly unconventional." Seras grinned. "Good." The older vampire approached and sat beside her. "Well, I suppose the kingdom will survive a change of curtains." Seras leaned closer. "One can hope." Helena kissed her. And somewhere in Night City, an interior decorator continued living in blissful ignorance of how close an ordinary household decision had come to becoming a matter of royal debate. Later that afternoon, Seras returned to her actual responsibilities. A meeting with representatives of two vampire households. A disagreement concerning property rights. A request for clarification regarding an old agreement that predated several of the corporations now occupying the relevant buildings. And one particularly tiresome argument about precedence. Seras listened. Patiently. For approximately twenty minutes. Then she raised one hand. The room became silent. "Enough." Nobody argued. The Vampire Queen regarded the assembled representatives. Her expression was calm. Her voice remained perfectly conversational. "You've spent the better part of an hour arguing over which family held this property first." One of the older vampires inclined his head. "Your Majesty, the historical records clearly indicate..." "That both families have been using the same building for nearly two centuries." Silence. Seras continued. "And neither has objected until someone discovered a nineteenth-century document with a slightly different name on it." A second representative opened her mouth. Seras looked toward her. "Don't." The woman closed it. Helena, seated discreetly nearby, lowered her eyes to conceal a smile. Seras leaned back. "The present arrangement remains in place. Any proposed changes will be negotiated through the appropriate community process, not through increasingly creative interpretations of dead people's handwriting." She paused. "Understood?" The representatives nodded. "Good." Seras looked toward the documents. "And please stop threatening to challenge each other over a storage room." The older vampire looked offended. "It is a historically significant storage room." Seras stared at him. Then sighed. "Of course it is." Helena made a small sound. Seras turned. "Something amusing?" Helena's expression was perfectly composed. "Not at all, Your Majesty." Seras narrowed her eyes. The older vampire smiled innocently. A dangerous smile. One that Seras knew very well. The meeting concluded shortly afterward. Without bloodshed. Without violence. And, to Seras's considerable satisfaction, without anyone suggesting that the dispute should be resolved according to medieval custom. Progress. When the last visitors had departed, Helena approached. "Very well handled." Seras looked toward her. "Thank you." "Although I rather liked the historically significant storage room." Seras closed her eyes. "Don't." Helena laughed softly. "Perhaps we should preserve it." "Helena." "Apply for heritage status." "Helena." "Ask Collector whether he'd like to add it to his collection." Seras stared. Then burst out laughing. "YOU ABSOLUTELY TERRIBLE WOMAN!" Helena smiled. "I learned from the best." Seras stood and drew her into an embrace. For a while, they simply held one another. Then Helena spoke quietly. "You seem happier." Seras considered. "Do I?" "Yes." The Vampire Queen leaned back slightly. For a moment, her expression became thoughtful. Then she smiled. "I think I am." --- That evening, Yukari received a message. She was curled on the Watson safehouse couch, enjoying a thoroughly peaceful afternoon. At least, as peaceful as anything involving Ace could reasonably become. Ace was arguing with Brenda about the correct way to prepare coffee. Mai was attempting not to become involved. Shammy was laughing. Iris had wisely decided to remain neutral. Yukari opened the message. *Tea sometime this week? No ancient castles, I promise.* She smiled. Then typed a reply. *How disappointing. I was beginning to enjoy our archaeological adventures.* The answer came almost immediately. *You are absolutely impossible.* Yukari considered. Then replied: *So I've been told.* A moment passed. Then another message appeared. *Thank you again. For Wallachia.* Yukari's expression softened. She looked toward the window. The city was bright beyond the glass. Traffic moved through Watson. Somewhere nearby, a delivery vehicle was having a very loud disagreement with an automated parking system. Life. Ordinary, gloriously ridiculous life. Yukari typed: *You don't need to thank me, Seras. I'm simply glad we went together.* The response took a little longer. *So am I.* Yukari smiled. Then closed the conversation. Ace looked over. "Seras?" The kitsune nodded. "Yes." "Everything okay?" "Very." Ace smiled. "Good." Yukari settled comfortably back into the couch. Then opened one golden eye. "She's invited me for tea." Ace grinned. "Excellent." Brenda looked interested. "Where?" "At her home." "With Helena?" "Possibly." Brenda considered. Then smiled. "Well, that sounds nice." Ace narrowed her eyes. "Why do I feel like you're about to say something?" Brenda looked innocent. "I wasn't." Mai laughed. Shammy smiled. Iris raised an eyebrow. Yukari closed her eye. "How fortunate." --- The tea invitation became reality several days later. Seras welcomed Yukari personally. Helena joined them for the first part of the afternoon. There was no formal audience. No royal ceremony. No elaborate display of hospitality. Only three women sitting together in a comfortable room, enjoying tea and conversation. Helena had been curious about the expedition. Not because Seras had withheld anything. She had told her lover a great deal already. But there was a difference between hearing a story and meeting someone who had been part of it. "You really found the original staircase?" Helena asked. Yukari nodded. "Yes." Seras groaned. "Oh, please don't." Helena smiled. "Darling." "You're both going to start." "Start what?" "Complaining about it." Yukari looked thoughtful. "To be fair, the construction was rather inconvenient." Helena nodded. "That sounds familiar." Seras stared. Then began laughing. "OH, FOR GOD'S SAKE!" Helena grinned. "Dracula was not the most patient man when it came to architecture." Yukari smiled. "So we gathered." "He once spent an entire evening explaining why a perfectly serviceable doorway had been built incorrectly." Seras looked delighted. "Really?" Helena nodded. "He was convinced the proportions were wrong." Yukari chuckled. "And were they?" Helena considered. "Probably." Seras groaned. "Don't encourage him retroactively." The laughter came easily. And for Seras, that was perhaps the nicest part. They could speak about Alucard without every memory becoming painful. His cruelty did not disappear. His history remained complicated. His absence was still real. But there had been laughter too. And she was beginning to remember more of it. After a while, Helena excused herself to attend to another matter. Before leaving, she approached Yukari. "I wanted to thank you personally." Yukari smiled. "Seras has already thanked me more times than I can count." Helena laughed softly. "That sounds like her." Seras folded her arms. "I'm sitting right here." "Of course you are, darling." Helena turned toward Yukari again. "Nevertheless. I'm grateful." The kitsune regarded her warmly. "She's my friend." Helena's expression softened. "Yes." A small pause. Then she smiled. "And I hope you'll become mine as well." Yukari rose. "I'd like that." They embraced. Briefly. Warmly. Without ceremony. Seras watched them. Then sighed. "Oh, wonderful." Both women turned. "What?" Helena asked. Seras shook her head. "Nothing." Yukari smiled. "That sounded suspicious." Seras grinned. "I've just realized that the two of you are going to become absolutely unbearable together." Helena considered. "Quite possibly." Yukari nodded. "An encouraging beginning." Seras buried her face in her hands. "God help me." The laughter continued long after Helena left the room. Eventually, the afternoon grew quieter. Seras and Yukari sat beside the window. The tea had been replenished. The city stretched beneath them. For a while, they talked about ordinary things. The weather. Night City's absurdities. A few particularly amusing stories from the safehouse. Then Seras looked toward Yukari. "Can I ask you something?" "Of course." "Do you think I was being foolish in Wallachia?" Yukari turned toward her. "About what?" "Expecting the castle to feel different." The kitsune considered. "No." Seras looked surprised. "Really?" "Really." A pause. "Places can become enormous in memory." Seras nodded slowly. "Yes." "Especially when the people associated with them are gone." The Vampire Queen looked toward the city. For a moment, she seemed thoughtful. Then she smiled faintly. "I kept imagining him standing in that courtyard." Yukari listened. "Even though I knew perfectly well he wasn't there." "Of course." "And when I finally saw the ruins..." Seras paused. "There was nothing." Yukari nodded. "Only stones." "Yes." A moment passed. Then Seras looked toward her. "But there was something else." Yukari waited. "Us." The kitsune smiled. Seras continued. "All five of us. Walking around the ruins. Arguing about the stairs. Looking at the mountains." She laughed softly. "And Ace complaining about absolutely everything." Yukari chuckled. "A familiar pleasure." Seras nodded. "I thought the castle would be full of his memories." A pause. "And it was." She smiled. "But now, when I think about it, I remember you too." Yukari looked at her. Seras continued. "Mai studying the walls. Shammy laughing. Ace insulting the architecture." She shook her head. "And you holding my hand." For a moment, neither spoke. Then Yukari smiled. "New memories." Seras nodded. "Yes." She looked toward the distant skyline. "New memories." The conversation drifted toward Collector's invitation. Seras had not yet chosen a date. Neither had Helena. There was no hurry. And that, Seras admitted, was one of the reasons she appreciated the offer. "He's not expecting us to rush," she said. Yukari smiled. "That would be rather unlike him." "True." "Are you looking forward to it?" Seras considered. "Yes." A pause. "More than I expected." Yukari nodded. "Good." Seras looked toward her. "I think Helena is curious." "I imagine." "She knew Alucard for a very long time." "Yes." "And I sometimes forget how much of his history I never witnessed." Yukari considered. "Perhaps you'll learn something." Seras smiled. "Perhaps." "Something wonderful." "Possibly." "Or something embarrassing." Seras laughed. "Oh, definitely." Yukari grinned. "Then I hope you'll tell me afterward." The Vampire Queen narrowed her eyes. "You're enjoying this." "Immensely." Seras shook her head. "Goddammit." --- At the Watson safehouse, the Triad was enjoying a rare quiet evening. Ace lay on the couch with her head in Mai's lap. Shammy sat beside them, gently brushing her fingers through Ace's hair. The television was on. Nobody was paying much attention to it. Somewhere nearby, Brenda and Iris were discussing dinner plans. For once, no emergency required immediate attention. No ancient artifact sat in secured storage. No mysterious client was waiting for a report. And nobody had suggested that the fate of Night City depended on a small group of women doing something spectacularly unreasonable. Ace considered that an excellent state of affairs. "Darling." Mai looked down. "Yes?" "Do you think Collector actually likes us?" Mai smiled. "Yes." Ace considered. "Really?" "Really." Shammy nodded. "I think so too." Ace looked toward her. "Even after everything?" Shammy laughed softly. "Especially after everything." Mai gently stroked Ace's hair. "He trusts us." Ace nodded. "Yeah." A pause. Then she grinned. "Probably because we're charming." Mai raised an eyebrow. "Reliable." "Charming." "Professional." "Charming." Shammy smiled. "All three." Ace looked delighted. "See? Shammy understands." Mai laughed. "Of course she does." A few minutes later, Yukari returned home. The downstairs notification sounded. Ace checked the security display, then went to open the upper entrance from inside. The kitsune entered in human form. She looked perfectly content. Ace smiled. "Tea?" Yukari nodded. "Tea." "Good?" "Very." "Seras?" "Wonderful." Ace grinned. "And Helena?" Yukari smiled. "Absolutely delightful." Ace studied her. Then narrowed her eyes. "That sounds suspicious." "Does it?" "Yes." Yukari considered. "Well, we did discuss you." Ace stopped smiling. "Oh, no." Mai looked up from the couch. "What?" Shammy began laughing. Yukari continued toward the living room. "Apparently, Seras has developed a particular appreciation for your archaeological expertise." Ace stared. "My WHAT?" "Especially your observations concerning the staircase." Shammy covered her mouth. Mai began laughing. Ace followed Yukari. "YOU DIDN'T." The kitsune smiled sweetly. "Only a little." "YUKARI!" Yukari settled onto the couch. Then transformed smoothly into her fox form. Nine tails arranged themselves comfortably around her. She opened one golden eye. "Beloved?" Ace folded her arms. "You're impossible." Yukari smiled. "So I've been told." --- Later, when the household had settled, Ace returned to her lovers. Mai was already in bed. Shammy lay beside her. Yukari had curled up at the foot. The familiar room was warm. Comfortable. Safe. Ace slipped beneath the covers. Mai welcomed her with a kiss. Shammy drew her close. For a while, the three women simply rested together. Then Ace spoke. "You know something?" Mai smiled. "What?" "I think that was one of our better Collector jobs." Shammy nodded. "Yes." "No monsters." "None." "No cultists." "None." "No ancient thing trying to eat the world." Mai laughed. "Not even a little." Ace smiled. "Just a castle." "A goblet," Shammy added. "And a lot of stairs." Mai kissed her cheek. "Terrible stairs." Ace grinned. "Exactly." A pause. Then her expression softened. "And Seras." Shammy nodded. "Yes." Ace looked toward the ceiling. For a moment, she remembered the burial chamber. The empty stone platform. The tarnished goblet. And the Vampire Queen standing beside it, looking suddenly much younger than her centuries. She remembered Yukari holding her. And the quiet sounds of grief. Then she remembered Seras laughing on the way down the mountain. The difference seemed important. Ace turned toward her lovers. "I'm glad she came with us." Mai smiled. "So am I." Shammy gently kissed her forehead. "She'll be all right." Ace considered. Then nodded. "Yeah." A moment passed. Then she smiled. "She's got Helena." Mai nodded. "And Yukari." Shammy smiled. "And us." Ace grinned. "Poor woman." From the foot of the bed came a soft chuckle. Yukari opened one golden eye. "An unfortunate collection of friends." Ace laughed. "The worst." Shammy drew her a little closer. Mai kissed her. And the room settled into comfortable silence. --- Across Night City, Seras Victoria stood beside her bedroom window. The city was quiet by its own peculiar standards. Helena approached from behind and wrapped her arms around her. "Thinking?" Seras smiled. "A little." "About Wallachia?" "Not exactly." Helena rested her chin against Seras's shoulder. "Then what?" Seras looked toward the distant lights. "About how strange life is." Helena laughed softly. "That is a rather large subject." "I know." A pause. Then Seras turned within her embrace. "Do you remember when you first acknowledged me as queen?" Helena smiled. "Of course." "Did you ever imagine we'd end up like this?" Helena considered. "Not precisely." Seras raised an eyebrow. "Not precisely?" "No." The older vampire gently touched her cheek. "I respected you long before I loved you." Seras nodded. "I know." "And I loved you long before I understood just how much you would mean to me." The Vampire Queen's expression softened. "Oh, Helena." Her lover smiled. "But I never doubted the choice." "Which one?" Helena leaned closer. "Either." Seras kissed her. For a while, nothing else mattered. When they separated, Seras remained in Helena's arms. "Do you know what I realized in that crypt?" Helena shook her head. "Tell me." Seras considered. "I spent so long thinking about what Alucard left behind." A pause. "His responsibilities. His reputation. His enemies. His history." Helena listened. "And sometimes I think I forgot to consider what I'd built since he disappeared." The older vampire smiled gently. "Your kingdom." "Yes." "Your friendships." "Yes." "Your life." Seras nodded. Then looked into her eyes. "And you." Helena's expression softened. Seras continued. "I went to Wallachia looking for something that belonged to my past." She smiled faintly. "And I came home wanting to spend more time with my future." Helena drew her close. "That sounds rather wonderful." Seras laughed quietly. "It does, doesn't it?" "Very." For a while, they stood together. Then Helena spoke. "And what about the invitation?" Seras smiled. "Collector?" "Yes." "I think we should accept a date soon." Helena raised an eyebrow. "Really?" "Yes." "Any particular reason?" Seras grinned. "I want to hear your stories." Helena laughed. "All of them?" "Every embarrassing detail." "Oh, darling." Seras leaned closer. "Especially anything involving furniture." Helena burst out laughing. "YOU TERRIBLE WOMAN!" Seras smiled triumphantly. "Learned from the best." Much later, the Vampire Queen of Night City lay beside the woman she loved. Helena slept peacefully. Seras remained awake a little longer. Not because she was troubled. Simply because she was content. She thought about the castle. The mountains. The old road. The ruined crossing. The narrow staircase. The empty burial chamber. And the goblet. Somewhere at Bywater House, it now rested safely among Collector's extraordinary possessions. It would be cared for. Preserved. Appreciated. The man who had once owned it remained missing. That mystery had not changed. Nor had the centuries of complicated history attached to his name. Seras still missed him. She suspected she always would. But the grief no longer seemed quite so solitary. She had Helena. She had friends. She had a kingdom that was hers because she had earned the right to lead it. And she had a life that did not need to remain forever in the shadow of Alucard's absence. Seras turned toward Helena. The older vampire stirred. "Everything all right, darling?" Seras smiled. "Yes." Helena opened her eyes. "Truly?" The Vampire Queen leaned forward and kissed her. "Truly." Helena smiled sleepily. "Good." She drew Seras closer. "Then come here." Seras settled into her arms. Outside, Night City continued its restless existence. No ancient mystery demanded their attention. No royal obligation interrupted the night. No ghost of Wallachia waited at the window. Only the city. The future. And two women who had chosen one another. Seras closed her eyes. For a moment, she remembered Alucard's laughter. Not painfully. Not with the desperate wish to hear it again. Simply as a memory. One she could keep. She smiled faintly. "Goodnight, you magnificent bastard." Helena stirred. "Hmm?" Seras laughed softly. "Nothing, love." "Thinking about him?" "A little." Helena kissed her forehead. "That's all right." Seras smiled. "I know." She slipped one arm around her lover. Then closed her eyes again. The past could remain the past. The future was waiting. And for once, Seras Victoria had no desire to be anywhere other than exactly where she was. Not Alucard's successor. Not the heir to a terrible legend. Not even the Vampire Queen. Just Seras. Loved. Home. And happy.